Sunday, September 7, 2008

Heartache..part 3

Some of the things that I write are a collection of my thoughts over the years through my observations. It is interesting to note & observe especially at dinners or any other functions how we choose as to who we sit with. It is understandable if there were not enough seats at one's table, the others had no choice but to get another table but not so if the table had a few seats left. Okay,it's true,one is free to choose where to sit or rather birds of the same feathers tend to flock together in some cases. In some new cases the birds that still had the same feathers however did not flock together.I noticed how we avoided some people like they had the plague;we would rather make a detour to avoid bumping or shaking hands with our once good buddies. They reciprocated;doing likewise. It is so sad..whatever the priests say sunday after sunday about the greatest commandment to love,all these go to one ear and out it goes through the next ear. What a shame!
Now that at certain dinners, seats are pre-allocated to guests,maybe it is a good thing to do that but then again maybe it is not wise to do so,afterall we want everybody to have a good time. We do not want 'grumpy' people at the table,do we? NO!

*Love & be loved.*

another headache...part 2

Another interesting thing that I enjoy observing when I attend a dinner is how we behave when we do not get the best seats...seats that give the best view of the stage. Believe me,getting the best seat or rather not getting the best seat can also become an issue. It is true when one comes late to a dinner,usually the seats facing directly to the stage are fast taken by the early birds. It is also true when friends say that 'nyu pedis pegu bai malik ke belakang ngagai stage'. Most times I never got the best seats..so what to do?..Just reposition the chair facing the stage,of course after the makan is done...but I do not really give a damn where I sit as long as the food & company are good even if the speakers are an inch away pounding on at my ear drums.. When the two are good,who needs to see what's happening on the stage. Right?? Right!! Do not always insist on getting the seats facing the stage..at times, a little suffering does one a lot of good. Sometimes I am surprised & ashamed when friends make such a fuss on not getting a good seat.

* Do not make a mountain out of a molehill.*

It's a heartache/headache...nothing but a heartche/headache

I can bet my bottom ringgit that what I am about to write might echo some of the people's thoughts about our surroundings.
For the past few weekends,it had been dinners & more dinners of which I am ever so thankful that I was invited. Just think,it is not an easy task for the host to decide as to who should one invites be it to a birthday party or a wedding dinner. I remember my parents had a hard time when D & I got married some 27 donkey years ago. The hard time was deciding on the guests' list..ya,that is where the headache & the heartache would follow each other. Headache on the hosts to accommodate the guests' lists from both sides,the venue to hold the large crowds,the caterer & so forth. Now, it's easier to arrange a wedding reception with the availability of quite a number of good restaurants to hold the function...but of course there is the 'cost' factor. Talking about the heartache....the heartache that friends & relatives feel/get when they are left out of the guests' lists. Much as I hate to admit this..yes,I do get 'offended' when my so called friends miss my name on their guests' list. Do not believe a word when a friend who has not got an invitation from you, says something like this: "Manah ga ti nadai kena saman/ambi,ukai enda ngena duit mayar utai di empa maia dinner." I tell you,she's lying & hurt..she doesn't mind parting with RM100/- just to be with you to share in the joy of seeing your anak kahwin. That friend of yours would be just as busy as you are,doing shopping for what baju to wear and hours before the wedding dinner,she would be seen as early or even earlier as the bride to have her face make-over & hair curled ala "Laura Ingall' of Little House on the Prairies tv series way back in the 70's. ha..ha.. ( the hair curls done with the rod..sometimes it is called the 'towkay neo' hairstyle..the curls would bounce each time one walks) Lately, I noticed that 'some weddings held at restaurants were self-paying or at least,break even lah because most people now follow or do what the Chinese do..they give 'angpow'. I find it is wise to give cash so as to lessen the burden on the hosts. Ya, this is the case of "you scratch my back,later I'll scratch your back". They do not give presents anymore. Talking about wedding gifts...I love my wedding gifts which were mostly sets of Pyrex dishes which are still in my mum's house. Ya, it is not easy to buy those Pyrex dishes anymore.Mind you,some of the wedding presents came in handy when you first set up a home...the dozens & dozens of cute glasses,baby gift sets (feeding bottles,lampin etc.) from friends who could not wait to see you reproducing & some photo frames & albums to keep those wedding photos.

The other headache........stay tuned.