It is neither impossible nor difficult to live an easy life if we choose to but will we be happy living it?
Am I doing it right or am I doing it wrong? Does giving up now mean I’m losing faith in Him?
I am but so tired….confused…..whatever His ineffable plan might be, if there is any at all…..
She listened to the pounding in of the nails, hammer echoing like pistol shots, and with every blow she felt a nail being driven into her own heart, envisaging the face that she knew so well, the granma she so clearly misses and loves so dearly for the one last time…..
Since Valentines Day is just around the corner inspiration comes a calling for a post.
A day that will invariably send 90% of the male species scrambling for cover under whatever that can provide cover and not see the light till the day is over, if they could! And the remaining 10% who willingly celebrate it in anticipation of getting lucky later!
Take my BFF who diligently exchanges gift with hubby at least five times a year. Given that in any one year there is only twelve months, you’ll find her lamenting and scouting for a gift about every two months plus! And yet she continues to do it, which makes me wonder is addiction at play here! Did I get that correct? Let’s count. There is Valentines Day, then there are birthdays, mother/father’s day, Christmas and anniversary. About right. If she’s able to find a reason for it, she’ll happily celebrate it all and more! Sometimes I deliberate between talking some sense into her or admire her tenacity for it. Such enthusiasm must surely wither sooner or later. No? Either that or the meanings must have been lost a long time ago!
Spiteful, spiteful I know…..jealousy kills!
You know age is catching up when you no longer indulge in this kind of foolishness. Or have I aged wisely without realising? Now, I’m rooting for the latter. Anyways I was never really a Valentine be it all girl. I mean it’s sweet if the one I loved celebrates it with me. But if he doesn’t, I wouldn’t resort to throwing a tantrum(for many a lady, it may be daggers being thrown! Again, probably not a lady if she is throwing daggers!) There is so much more in a relationship than flowers, chocolates, cute teddy bears and romantic dinners on a widely too widely commercialised day. Doing something expected of you on a specific day just because it is expected of you doesn’t spell romantic. I am fervently hoping I won’t be eating my own words sometime in the near future! On the contrary, it seems contrived. Like we are all acting out our parts. Which is true in a sense. The world is a stage after all. To each his own.
For me, Valentine is about the person you most care about caring for you in return, being able to comfort you when you most needed it. Valentine is about being deliriously happy just because you are with him each and every time. Those moments, those days, they would be my Valentines day.
In a blink of an eye, today is already Chap Goh Mei (the 15th day) and signifies the last day of the New Year for Chinese all over the world. It also celebrates the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day for those in love and not so in love.
A recap of the things that we can’t do without during the Lunar New Year.
Pussy willows and new year decors.
Unlimited ang pows (red packets or the current version of gold packets) with money inside of course. The thicker one’s ang pow is the more prosperous the recipient. But again, not necessarily considering the global financial climate. You may end up with 10 pieces of $1 instead of a $10 note!
Plentiful of Yee Sang. This photo is evidence of some overzealous tossing in search of prosperity and everything good.
Offerings on the prayer table. Pomelo and pineapple which signifies abundance and prosperity.
Nien kao (climbing the ladder of success in career or studies) and kam (which sounds like gold in Cantonese). Again prosperity. As you may have already guessed, Chinese New Year is very much about prosperity for the rest of the year.
A ravishing smile.
And a dash of innocence for the inner child in all of us!
Happy Chap Goh Mei!
wiloWalls 