9-4-83
My Mother said to me
"You know next week is what anot?"
I looked up from the newspaper and said
"What?..."
Very randomly, she handed me her wedding ring and said
"You see inside. What's the date?"
I picked up the tiniest gold ring I've ever seen.
She had really tiny fingers then.
It was a very simple golden wedding band with small stripey patterns on it. Very old school indeed.
I peered into the inside of the ring.
I had to squint my eyes to make out the small block letters.
Engraved, it read
'C.H.Tan 9-4-83'
I laughed out loud.
"C.H. Tan??"
(That's my father's email adress)
"So, how many years?" my mother questioned, eyebrows raised.
It dawned upon me. Oh shite, I forgot all their anniversary.
"Errr...wait"
I quickly did some mental calculations.
"Twenty five ah?" I replied gingerly.
Ah! How could I have almost missed that?
"Ya, I knew that what. I belanja you makan lah" I quickly added.
"No need lah. Don't waste money" my mother replied as she traipsed away.
I've gotta be a really stupid child to believe her.
Well, I cannot let her think she gave birth to something stupid.
So- sigh. Duty calls.
Now, here's my big dilemma.
I know twenty five years is a big deal.
And it is incumbent upon me, the eldest of the offspring to make this celebration a memorable one.
I don't suppose supper at Williams is good enough?
I love this picture. These are really my parents! It's not from gettyimages!
~*~
when in doubt, make jokes.
I've been you know,
*flicks hair* like, really busy.
So, here- have some jokes...
A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, "So, why the long face?"
A polar bear, a giraffe and a penguin walk into a bar. The bartender says, "What is this? Some kind of joke?"
A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
A pony walks into a bar and says "Bartender, may I have a drink?" Bartender says "What? I can't hear you. Speak up!" "May I please have a drink?" "What? You have to speak up!" "Could I please have a drink?" "Now listen, if you don't speak up I will not serve you." "I'm sorry, I'm just a little hoarse."
Celine Dion walks into a bar. The bartender says, "So, why the long face?"
+
the sweet smell of Victory.
It's my first time.
A Malay lady is checking for my name.
She hums the BN theme song.
I semi-roll my eyes.
She smiles, and passes me a slip : Room 6.
I make my way up the stairs.
There's 3 other people in line.
I try to keep a straight face.
But inside, my heart is pounding.
I wait a little while.
It's my turn now.
My name is read, I am identified.
Two Orange Slips.
I go behind the white box.
There's a simple blue pencil.
I think, simple...
But full of power, this pencil decides the fate of our govt.
I pick it up, it's slightly blunt.
Here we go.
'X' in all the right places.
I double, triple check.
Just to be sure.
I whisper
"Lord, let my vote count. Let it not be null & void
Let Your will be done..."
I fold the ballots.
And drop them in their respective boxes.
A smile & a nod
And I stride out.
Never been so satisfied.
Never done anything so right.
And today, I smile
Because Victory is the Lords.
Psalms 89:14" Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you."`
The Heat is On
The only thing on everyone's lips is, yes- you've guessed it...
The General Elections.
Be it pro-BN or not, no conversation has gone without a mention of the upcoming event.
3 more days left.
I'm rather excited since I'll be scratching in my very first 'X' at the polling booth come saturday.
It's not going to be very hard for me to decide on who to vote, since all sorts of outrageous & appalling events have taken place in this dear country of ours.
One of the first few things I did after turning twenty one was to march right into the post office and register as a voter.
And I'm so glad I did it early, in time to make it for this year's elections.
However, I have a large number of friends who find it pointless & a waste of time to vote. They've refused to participate ; not this time round and probably not ever.
And then I'll curtly say something about how we should be responsible citizens & speak up with our votes, and try to convert them. But, I guess there's only so much you can & should say.
You know how talking about politics always ends up in an awkward, heated debate.
I'd rather stay clear of that.
It's tragic tho.
But the votes must go on!
I've noticed that one of the most frequently used lines is probably 'Vote Wisely'.
You hear it in churches, in conversations, in forums, in forwarded emails...
Everyone's been telling each other to 'Vote Wisely'.
Which, I'm quite sure translates to 'Vote Opposition'
So don't 'Vote for Malaysia'.
Instead, 'Vote Wisely'
=
what i've been secretly doing
I had quit my job in Dec, and was back to doing normal 20-something-year-old things ; studying, shopping, socializing. Things I needed to do.
After 3months of not changing a diaper, or wiping snot off someone's little nose, I began to sorta miss it.
So today, I popped by the Daycare that I used to work at.
Just to say hi and steal a few cuddles & kisses.
Those little sweethearts made my day.
I feel so peaceful, so loved & so able to love.
Is this what fulfillment feels like?
**Nikon D50 courtesy of tien7
I love this picture. These are really my parents! It's not from gettyimages! 
