My story started out like any ordinary morning, usual activities like enjoying my Earl Grey tea while appreciating exotic orchids displaying their vibrant colors, birds flying into my garden taking their baths and those Kingfishers and their fellow comrade whom never stop trying to "fish" their breakfast from my neighbor’s pond. With beautiful scent that lingers in the air from my garden and birds chirping from the roof, I thank God for the bliss I enjoyed every morning.
With all these wonderful things happening around me, light-heartedly I went backyard to have my usual morning session with Roger & Howard (black rabbit brothers) and Momoko (Moluccan Cockatoo), but they seemed depressed…. wondering why when something caught my eyes. In a corner on damp soil lied a lifeless chick. Had no idea where it might have dropped from, sadly I buried it in my backyard. With this turn of event, my morning session turned into consoling for the three of them and myself.
IF I did not spend too much time enjoying myself in the garden, I may have a chance to save that poor chick.....et cetera.
I felt so helpless with many what IF in my head.
I wished I could make a difference for the less fortunate and it was a sincere thought.
I started to pray for God’s guidance and while I was praying colors started to occupy my mind like a kaleidoscope.
If this is a sign, I think God is kidding me.
What am I going to do with colors let alone make a difference?!
Thinking it must be death that depressed me enough to turn GREY into COLORS in my mind and went upstairs to play with my toys instead.
My toys displaying in front of me are palettes of eye shadows, all kind of make-up stuffs that comes in different sizes and packaging.
Kaleidoscope of COLORS!!
Am I missing something here?!
I ran to my study to Google on "Make-up" and "The School of Make-up" appeared….
My simple journey into the world of make-up artistry ironically began on the morning when a chick died in my backyard!
Along the way, I started to have doubts….
How can putting colors on faces make a difference for the less fortunate?
Could I have misread God’s sign?
There were events that happened which I could not provide a logical explanation for.
I was asked to help out at one of my classmate Zhang Qiao Rui’s family ROM. Beside the bride I had to do hair styling for Rui’s mother who had flat curly hair and she was tired with the ROM preparation. Due to I had to rush off to school, I did not have much time to doll her mother up. Regretfully, I did her hair with only my bare hands and managed to turn flat curls into voluminous curls! She was happy with the transformation and was curious how I had done it.
How did it happen? I have no idea!
As I was progressing in school, I was given opportunities for assignments, among which there are events that had found their place in my heart.
I was asked by TSMU’S founder Mr Peter Angel Wanneck and Miss Adeline Goh to do an assignment for a corporate dinner. I was asked to do a make-up for a Caucasian lady. She has redness, loose eyelids, wrinkled face and no liking for eye tapes and false lashes. I do not know her age but she looked very haggard and unhappy without smiles. Person of her status tends not to have time to smell the roses. I felt sorry for her. I took longer than usual that night on her face, focusing on lines, excess skin, et cetera, she was getting very impatient and I could not blame her. When I was done, she left hurriedly with much relieved of "finally" getting out of my chair!
Ten minutes later, someone appeared in front of me and pronounce with enthusiasm "Look at me!" she said. This young looking woman glowed like a pearl standing in front of me and I could not recognized her instantly till I finally recognized her eye color, then I just smiled. Seeing me smile, she said that after she saw herself in the mirror while she was dressing up, she could not believe the vibrant reflection looking back at her and she had to come by to say thanks for taking years off her face.
Later that night, one of the organizers was the last one to have her make up done by other artist. She looked very sad because she did not have the time to do her hair and she was trying to make the best out of it by using her bare hands. Knowing I was given instructions that that was just make-up (not hair) assignment only but my heart ache for a sad soul. Therefore, I went up to her to offer her my bare hands instead and she accepted. Her hair became voluminous instantly. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, I asked "Do you feel better now?" and she replied with a broad smile, "YES!" For that I and Cheryl (my fellow classmate) were given complimentary car park tickets as a token of appreciation. [THANK YOU!]
With doubts along the way till this day I do not know how all these are happening but I know one thing for sure by bringing smiles back on faces and helping others to fall in love with themselves again cannot be bad.
Last night Momoko gave out her alert cry and when I arrived at the backyard, I saw Roger & Howard were guarding a black colored "object" while waiting for me. It was a new born chick (again not sure where it had dropped from) and still alive. After I picked the chick up, Roger & Howard were relived enough to go back to bed with Momoko. I named this new family member – FLUKE.
With God’s love I was given another chance in life, a chance to save FLUKE and with great blessing that my HANDS are God’s tools to make this world a happier and more beautiful place to live in……
..…then this journey into the world of make-up artistry has just began.
PRAISE THE LORD! HALLELUJAH!
~ Francina Weronika