She’s one of the few people who knew the real me. Hindi ko kailangang magpasintabi or mag-alala’ng di nya ko mage-’gets’. There was never a fear of being judged or perceived in the negative. We were always transparent with each other.

The funny thing is aside from my husband, no one else knows we’re really, really good friends. We were buddies but we didn’t have a common set of friends.

We were classmates in only one ComSci subject. We’re from different years/batch. We belong to rival student orgs.

It is amazing that since that lone course-work we remained good friends. We’d meet for dinner after work. We’d call each other. We’d hang out in bars at night. We talk up a storm and we never run out of topics.

I ended up in London and she in Melbourne, and our calls continued but rarely. When we do call though, it’s for at least an hour. When we email it’s kilometric. We give each other “status updates” on our lives, our new problems and dilemmas. Before the “catch you later then” we’d always say “one of these days” we’ll see each other either in Australia or here in London.

We meant it every time. But that day will never come.

The last time I contacted her, it was 3am in Oz and she said I amaze her by always getting in touch when she needed a friend the most. ESP, I joked. She was going thru a breakup, was in-between jobs and was fretting about her ex- wanting custody of her son. We talked for I don’t remember how long.

A few weeks after she called and said she did find a job and is feeling better about everything. I sent her a few materials on SQL and that was it. I got buried under work and family and wanting more time for almost everything that’s happening in my life then up to now.

My family went on holiday and on our arrival the first thing I remember thinking was getting in touch with her. That was 3rd week of September.

I forgot.

This morning a phone alert came up to remind me it’s her birthday. See I am forgetful I rely on automatic reminders.

I sent her a text message when I got in the office at 830am. I didn’t receive a reply but that’s not unusual. I logged in to my Friendster account, which is unusual for me these days, and saw I have messages. One was from someone I didn’t know and the subject was my friend’s name.

I couldn’t believe what I read. I was outraged. It could be a very, very sick joke or someone out to harm my friend.

I called her number, it wasn’t ringing.

The letter said my friend died on the 21st of September. She fell ill the week before and became gradually worse on the 3rd week of last month!

You know what they say, that the worst feeling in the world is thinking of all the “I should have’s” that you didn’t?

I realised today that Gay and I didn’t know each other’s families. We never involved anyone else in our twosome-world. I also realised that out of all those memorable times we spent together, we have no picture of “us”.

People will find it hard to believe we’re really good friends and we affected each other’s lives. I have no proof. I have lots of memories and I guess to old folks like myself, that will do me fine. I know what’s more important is I got to know her and we are friends.

After a lot of calls, I managed to talk to her parents. I just wanted to reach out and let them know how special their daughter is to a stranger (at least to them). That done, I felt better.

So many things are spinning around my head. Family, friends, all of whom are far away from me. I also thought of myself. If I died now, how would my friends know I am dead? I know I’d be gone but I wouldn’t want them to think I blanked them out of my life. I have friends who are like me, in-and-out but with lasting bonds and they will want to know.

I don’t know how to end my post. I just can’t believe that one of the people who brightens my life is no longer here. The world, my world, just became a little grey.

With her flamboyant personality, very public stance against multinational corporations and outspoken opinions on traditional stereotypes of attractiveness, Roddick will be remembered as a maverick in the world of beauty.
—- WWD.com

Anita Roddick died on Monday and for the second time in my life, a public figure’s death touched me and I mourned. Roddick may not be Mother Theresa but she’s certainly an inspiration to women around the globe. Her death meant losing a powerful and credible role model for our children.

Roddick is the founder of Body Shop and she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C which she caught from a blood transfusion upon giving birth. I don’t really know much about her. I don’t have any of her books. I’m not a regular customer in her shop. But from the little news and history that I learnt since coming to London, I can’t help but be amazed by how much she has accomplished & how much she managed to give back to society. I know this is superficial I also liked looking at her pictures and more than once I told my husband that I want to grow old like her: gracious and always simple but elegant. Truly classy like a modern day Audrey Hepburn in her greying years.

For most of us still living & breathing, especially those struggling to do the right thing or to “make it”, Roddick’s life can still inspire us to persevere, to stay focused, and to challenge the norm if it meant staying true to what you believe in. She’s truly one a kind. God Bless her soul.