I have been reading the papers. Being trapped in Tekong does no good to your stale brains wrapped in burnt scalp. Have ALWAYS questioned how figures like my father and mother can be glued to the papers every morning. They make it a ritual in the loo. Now, I'm the one religiously reading the newspapers. It's enticing, really. Especially the very personal grouses. Or takes on society.
Just read Wei Xuan's blog about religion and HOW TRUE can that be! What he said IS exactly what I feel about the matter, very aptly encapsulated by the Brechtian example of a boat in a flood. Man! How come things like that hit you like this, early in the morning, on one of those mornings you are not prepared to make a discovery or invention, only willing to hide beneath the sheets for another minute or stay pledged forever to the TV set.
When you are deprived of something for a period of time, the point of release reveals to you WHAT is most precious to you(have I written this? sounds familiar). I think that's when you can truly ascertain YOUR FAVOURITES. Favourite food. Favourite song. The cravings that come uncalled for and which sometimes take you by surprise.
I was thinking of changing my msn nick last night. It was "I eat it MYYYYYYY WAY". Somehow it was hard to find something to replace it. WEIRD. Somehow, it seems to be etched in my identity. Partly shamed, partly proud.
This new year, my family visited ALOT. Yesterday I was just at this very crammed 3-room HDB flat, which was hosting about 30 people or so. They were the typical aunties, the golden tooth, the mahjong itch, the loud gasps and exclamations. BUT I LIKED IT THAT WAY! I didn't know exactly who I was visiting to be honest, whose house I was in. But it was the crowd more than anything that made it look and sound like New Year. One rather plump Aunt, a self-confessed chatterbox, promotes her HOME-MADE( to the power of 20) tarts and cookies. Another slightly older one, KEEPs commenting on how we three brothers have different looks and asks with sudden spurts of surprise, inquisitively, about Army Life. My Australian Aunts (both younger than me) toys with their obsession with the camera and goes shooting non-stop at every corner, while CHATTERBOX Aunt keeps saying NO to the camera yet she still poses with the cute face befitting her character. What a blast.
In another visit, I had a very morbid premonition. I was talking in Cantonese to my grandmother at the balcony. Then she said she wanted to take a nap. I had this bizarre, nagging feeling that she will die in her sleep. At that moment, it was all clear, that although I seldom see her, and always diss her frugal-turned-miserly ways, I still found her an essential part of my life. And her toothless grin, that every move or discourse at the dining table is trying to elicit, brings alot of joy to the family. She's old, but she always tries to play hard-to-get, complaining that she hates reunion dinners. But you've got to see that sparkle in her eyes when she makes her grand entrance and sees the three generations gathered at one place, or even when she spots a tin of bak kwa, or re-iterates how she loves the sour plum in the yu sheng, you see a light spark in the eyes. which is another pleasure of life, isn't it? Watching an 80 year-old play a 3-year-old game?
Happy Chinese New Year!
Just read Wei Xuan's blog about religion and HOW TRUE can that be! What he said IS exactly what I feel about the matter, very aptly encapsulated by the Brechtian example of a boat in a flood. Man! How come things like that hit you like this, early in the morning, on one of those mornings you are not prepared to make a discovery or invention, only willing to hide beneath the sheets for another minute or stay pledged forever to the TV set.
When you are deprived of something for a period of time, the point of release reveals to you WHAT is most precious to you(have I written this? sounds familiar). I think that's when you can truly ascertain YOUR FAVOURITES. Favourite food. Favourite song. The cravings that come uncalled for and which sometimes take you by surprise.
I was thinking of changing my msn nick last night. It was "I eat it MYYYYYYY WAY". Somehow it was hard to find something to replace it. WEIRD. Somehow, it seems to be etched in my identity. Partly shamed, partly proud.
This new year, my family visited ALOT. Yesterday I was just at this very crammed 3-room HDB flat, which was hosting about 30 people or so. They were the typical aunties, the golden tooth, the mahjong itch, the loud gasps and exclamations. BUT I LIKED IT THAT WAY! I didn't know exactly who I was visiting to be honest, whose house I was in. But it was the crowd more than anything that made it look and sound like New Year. One rather plump Aunt, a self-confessed chatterbox, promotes her HOME-MADE( to the power of 20) tarts and cookies. Another slightly older one, KEEPs commenting on how we three brothers have different looks and asks with sudden spurts of surprise, inquisitively, about Army Life. My Australian Aunts (both younger than me) toys with their obsession with the camera and goes shooting non-stop at every corner, while CHATTERBOX Aunt keeps saying NO to the camera yet she still poses with the cute face befitting her character. What a blast.
In another visit, I had a very morbid premonition. I was talking in Cantonese to my grandmother at the balcony. Then she said she wanted to take a nap. I had this bizarre, nagging feeling that she will die in her sleep. At that moment, it was all clear, that although I seldom see her, and always diss her frugal-turned-miserly ways, I still found her an essential part of my life. And her toothless grin, that every move or discourse at the dining table is trying to elicit, brings alot of joy to the family. She's old, but she always tries to play hard-to-get, complaining that she hates reunion dinners. But you've got to see that sparkle in her eyes when she makes her grand entrance and sees the three generations gathered at one place, or even when she spots a tin of bak kwa, or re-iterates how she loves the sour plum in the yu sheng, you see a light spark in the eyes. which is another pleasure of life, isn't it? Watching an 80 year-old play a 3-year-old game?
Happy Chinese New Year!