Thursday, February 02, 2006
This CNY was so incredibly h.o.t. The weather was stuffy and humid, and all I wanted to do was hibernate in the aircon room with the pineapple tarts. But that was not the case for me, and so it was heigh-ho-heigh-ho, it's off to visiting we go. Grandma's place was as usual crowded and very loud, only minus the excited exclamations that resonated through the walls last year when my bro & sis-in-law started dishing out angpaos for the first time. (There, that's another reason not to get married. Can save $1k annually.) The food was awesome, all lovingly cooked by my grandma, who despite being ill, was strong & determined enough to go to the market to pick out the freshest & best to cook a fantastic meal for us. At moments like these, I find it really hard to believe that she's sick, and all the doctors' lousy premonitions are so easily forgotten. This CNY, I learned that a miracle doesn't come as we usually expect. There wasn't the sudden miraculous depletion of cancer cells from a sickened body, but instead, the beauty that stands before me in the form of a hairless head covered in a funky wig that looks good on nobody but her, a set of neatly manicured nails, and a pair of determined eyes. Yes, my grandma prides herself in looking pretty, even when her hair isn't there anymore or that she has lost so much weight that her dentures had to be refitted 3 times. So, the 4 days were eventful. Not just to eat, to make merry, to collect angpaos, to give angpaos, to dress up, or to win at mahjong. But most importantly, to just help us remember that time is precious, and everyday is a celebration. Happy Lunar New Year!
lying among the petals 5:56 PM
