I love the fireworks. I love the parade. I love the slight of entire HDB blocks with the Singapore flags proudly displayed outside their windows. I love how the cars have the cute lil flag decals. I love how some taxis even have mini flags attached to the car window. I love how when i go for supper after the parade i see people decked out in red and white at the hawker centre. I absolutely am filled with child-like anticipation and excitement when it come to the parade. And even though i can recite to you by heart, the entire and exact sequence of the parade, i will still go to the loo before the parade so i don't miss a thing. I run to the balcony when i hear the roaring of the fighter jets. I stand during the national anthem and tear when they show video montages of the past. I wave at the Tv when the President does his round on the land rover ard the stadium. I get so excited for the soldier the President stops to talk to. I hoot and whistle at the sight the ladies in the marching contigent. I gawk in amazement at how neat and perfectly synchronised the marching is. I OOgle at the navy men with their wrinkle-free pants and gleeming white shoes. And i sing at the top of my lungs with true and sincere patriotism when they start playing what i like to call the " REAL national day songs" - Stand up for Singapore, Count on me Singapore, One people One Nation, Home, Muneru Valiba..etc. And i wait at the steps of Marina Square at 6 o clock on tuesdae, just to see a 10 minute showcase of fireworks at 9 pm, and then get herded to the mrt station together with the other 500 people that come to do the same thing :) Singaporeans do not always express how we feel. In fact we keep to ourselves too much. But that makes it especially heart warming to see people show love and enthusiam for their country on August 9th every year. Sigh. I think now i know why i cant sleep. I'm just too darn proud to be Singaporean on this very special National Day.