Dear friends,
Aha! So here I am! It’s been one year for my marriage! I got married to my beautiful wife a year ago on 25th October 2008! Time flew by so fast I have no recollection where time went, but then they say good times fly by fast! It’s been an incredible journey so far and my wife and I were just talking about how far we’ve come this one year.
So, right after our marriage, we set off to Phuket, Thailand, where my boss had gifted us his private beach resort at the Laguna Beach Resort. We had the entire place to ourselves. (My company paid for the airfare- business class!). We went to Phi Phi Island (where The Beach was shot), snorkelled and swam; had elephant treks deep inside the jungle; went to Patong and Phuket downtown to get a feel of the real Thailand; ate spicy Thai food; got a sun tan at the beach; had romantic dinners; and a lot more. We then proceeded to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where a very posh Mercedes whisked us away to Ritz Carlton for our one week stay. What did we do: shopped, ate out a lot, watched movied, climbed up Petronas Towers, had dinner at the revolving restaurant at the Menara Tower (very very high!), went to Genting Highlands, checked out KL Aquaria and lots more.
Once we came back from our honeymoon, it was back to normal daily routine in Lahore. December was New Years, which we didnt do much with. There were several weddings in December that we enjoyed going to.
It was on 1st January 2009 that my mom broke the news that my dad has cancer. I spent my day at work in a daze. I even got fined while driving back home because I was so caught up in my thoughts. So my dad’s treatment began, which was very challenging. However, we as a family noticed how close we were drawing ourselves to one another. My wife and I were thrown in this difficult position, and we were forced to get to know one another on a deeper level a lot faster.
March 2009. My wife and I went to Dubai for my 6-months visa renewal. It was her first time, and we had a blast staying at the Sofitel, Deira City Center. We met up with my friends there, went to desert safari, had lots of Chilis and Marble Slab ice cream. We didn’t do a lot of shopping though. Just hung out at Mall of the Emirates, City Center, Madinat Jumeira and Jumeriah Beach Residences.
Then in May 2009, my wife, along with my sister, and two cousins and their moms, went to Istanbul, Turkey for a wedding of our pakistani friend to a Lebanese guy. It was one the best wedding my wife had attended, and their narration of everything that went on in Istanbul and the pictures proved their story’s worth. It was a trip I had wished I had gone too! 
My brother and his family visited us as well. Their two kids were a delight, and my wife and I spent some time with them as well (gearing up for parenthood!). My wife’s sister and her daughter also came in from London and we had a blast hanging out with them too!
My dad was scheduled for his surgery on 20th July 2008. They were to remove his tumor. After undergoing months of chemotherapy and radiation. My dad’s three brothers and two sister made it to Lahore for the surgery. My brother also came in from London. We as a family stood by my dad during his surgery. After a tense day of my dad being in the operating room and eventually into ICU, the doctors declared his surgery a success! It was as if everyone were relieved of all the pressures of the world. My dad gave emotional speeches to everyone of us individually in the ICU unit. He even made me cry to the point where I was finally able to tell my dad that I love him! What a breakthrough for me!
My wife and I were scheduled to go to Dubai again in September 2009. This time we decided to spoil ourselves and we stayed at the Kempinski at Mall of the Emirates, where we got an automatic upgrade to the bigger room because the room I booked for was not available. We had one of the most fun week. Shopping, shopping and shopping at Mall of the Emirates, City Center and Dubai Mall– why? Because her brother’s wedding is coming up and we needed to shop for everything and everyone. We bought new clothes, shoes, accesories. The highlight on this trip was clearly the Aquaventure Park at Atlantis. The Metro ride was fun too! Not to mention the several times my friends who took us out to dinner- Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Residence and other places.
Once back to Lahore, we got busy with the upcoming wedding. He is scheduled to marry on 19th October 2009. But something else happened. My grandmother fell sick suddenly and just three days before the wedding, she passed away. So my family and I went into a period of 3 days mourning, and then resumed back to normal with our daily life. This was a very difficult time for me because I was close to her, and so I had the privilege of lifting my grandmother after she had been washed, and carry her to the grave in the casket.
The wedding was a lot of fun, especially as I got to meet a lot of people from my wife’s side. The wedding reception dinner on the 25th was also the day when my wife and I had been happily marrief for one whole year!
This is tribute to my wonderful wife, who’s been so amazing, supportive, thoughtful, loving and the best friend I could ask for!
I will not forget to mention God, because I’ve always kept God before anyone and anything in my life, and I feel I need to give Him thanks too immensely for all the blessings He’s given to me in my life!
Mansur
congratulations