… three precious weeks, day 7

Bells?  Today, of all things, I am hearing bells. I opened my eyes and once again had to orientate where I was. I turned my head and saw that NN was still sleeping in her bed and then on the other side, 雁雁 was curled up fast asleep also. What time is it? I wanted to pull my blanket over my head and go back to sleep but I got up anyway to walk over to the windows to look outside. A groggy voice says… “School bells… did you hear children singing too?” I smiled and whispered “Good morning, 雁雁”. Didn’t want to wake NN up but then she (NN) did a cat stretch and said “Ooh…早晨!” We took our turns getting ready then it was off we go for a luncheon buffet.
The food was very good and there was so much variety! I saw my very first “大閘蟹”! My first thought was… they should be called “細閘蟹” because they were very small. When it was getting close to 2 o’clock we decided that it was time to head out to the photo studio. We all got up and being the last one, I looked around the seats to make sure we didn’t leave anything behind. When I turned around, NN and雁雁 was nowhere to be seen. A very helpful waiter waved me in the direction to the restroom and I had taken for granted he was telling me that’s where my friends headed off to. Boy, these girls walk very fast, I don’t see them, not even when I picked up my pace and was walking down an area where one could at least see 40 yards ahead. I got into the restroom and nope, they weren’t there. Oh well, since I am already here, I mind as well go. I wasn’t really worried that I have lost them somehow. The second I closed the door on my stall, I heard雁雁 called out “Charmed!” “Here!” I answered. Uh oh… there was a slight panic in her voice… I am in trouble now. For the rest of the trip when we were walking… she held my hand.
We finally got to the studio and sat down to choose the costumes, I told the girls that I would be okay there and they can do their own thing and come back for me in a few hours. They said it was fine and that they’ll wait for me. I think that they think I would disappear somehow even with full opera makeup on. I chose the minimum three sets of costumes then sat down to have the makeup done. Wow… it took much longer than I anticipated, over 2 hours! That was just for the make up! It’s been over 14 years since I had that kind of makeup done. How time flies. Sitting there brought back so many memories of the past. I was weaving through good times, the shared laughter, the flashes of faces of friends who have past and feeling the slight regret of finally saying goodbye to that part of my life. This was the closing of that final chapter. After close to 5 hours, I was finally done! I can come and pick up the photos on the 22^nd.
May was to meet us for dinner but she had lost contact with NN so we decided to head back to HK thru the same port that we came in. Just as we finished crossing the border, NN got a call from May. She was in China at羅湖! We then decided to meet up on the HK side but closer to her port. Don’t ask me where… because I haven’t the slightest clue. All I remember was riding a train, seeing May, getting into a taxi then we were… on this one street where there were masses of people sitting on tables with the smell of delicious food in the air. Wow! It was like so festive! The closest thing that I remember seeing something like this is, is when there is a block party in Hawaii. We ordered all kinds of food and it was so good! I ate a little bit of everything! Well, it was time to say goodnight to the gals and they put me on a taxi so I can head back to the apartment.
Once I got back to the “flat”, I kicked off my shoes and turned on the water heater. Remembering that 00 took time off from work to spend the next two days with me (total 6 days from work) to show me the sights of HK, I gave her a call and we agreed to meet around 11 (I think…) Got a wonderful surprise too!  Winnie was joining us.  Okay, time for a shower! Oh! I better let the girls know that I got home safely…
After showering… hmmm… wriggling my toes...how come my left toe is a bit sore now?  Goodness, has one week passed already?