Tuesday, January 18, 2005

comfy in your skin

as i was looking through the papers 2 days back, i saw some photos featuring a couple of my old classmates. these are people that i have not seen for more than 10 years. if it's not for the captions under the photos, i would never in a million years be able to guess that it was them.

one was them looked as though butter can't melt in her mouth. too picture perfect, too polish, and yes, she looks just as snooty and vain as she did back in school. so freakin plastic! must be the botox that preserved the tight-assed look that she perfected in school.

now, the second lady was certainly a surprise. she used to be such a naughty and mischievous kid back then, you know, the one who collects black marks and detention and couldn't give two hoots about it. now she looks like one tai-tai or mak datin, one that goes the whole nine yards! but i must say she does look good, a vast improvement from the 'old' look.

from the looks of it, it seems that these ladies dress and look like that all the time. morning, noon, evening and night. oh boy, sheer torture i'm sure.

i do not envy the two of them. i feel as though they are puppets of society. do they actually enjoy the whole process of dolling up? doubt it. come on, i'm a woman, i know what it's like. i do admit that there are times when we want to look great and we take the trouble to put together the perfect ensemble, matching accessories, the warpaint, the right scent, basically the whole works. but everyday? i don't think so.
there are days when you just wanna pull on that well worn pair of jeans and a top and just hang out with friends.

at the end of the day, it all depend on us being comfortable in our own skin. when you know that you can walk out of the house without a hint of make up, dressed in your most comfortable clothes and still feel confident enough to walk into a high-class mall and purchase some prada or mont blanc or even just a cup of coffee without even thinking of what the salesperson think of you, then my friend, you are comfy in your skin.

Monday, January 17, 2005

daddy n dad

i recently got married and now i have a daddy and a dad. daddy being my own father and dad, my father-in-law.

they have such different personalities and yet i find many similarities. daddy is quiet and reserved, whereas dad loves to talk and have parties. daddy is allergic to alcohol and dad enjoys getting 'spiritual'. and the list goes on.

the common ground is that they both come from the same school and are whole-heartedly loyal to their alma mater. the school rally was ingrained in me since i was six by my father and i can't even remember my own school songs!! and guess what, my husband is from the same school!

loyal they may be to their place of learning, that's where this particular similarity stops. one is fiercely proud of his alma mater and the other had never 'left' the school. he taught there, and even though he is retired, the place where he spent most of his life is cemented into his heart and his soul. his immediate family might not like the idea of 'his' school taking precedent over them, and i can understand why. but seeing him interacting with his former students, and how they revere him, paints a totally different picture.

there are also similarities in their core behaviour as well. both are men of very strong principles, quick witted and armed with tongues like the samurai's sharpest sword. their level and comprehension of the english language (the queen's english, mind you. to them the is no other kind) is so extensive that to hold a serious conversation with them, most of us might need to have a dictionary close-by.

they are of the conservative era, but it sometimes amazes me to experience their openmindedness and acceptance of modern day practices.

when it comes to their own, they are both slow to praise but expects the best (especially in the aspects of educational achievements, choice of friends, moral standings, and so on and so forth. then again, most parents do have this common trait). as we grow older, we slowly learn to recognize the glitter in their eyes that symbolizes their pride. they may not speak of it, not to our face at least, but sometimes all it takes for us is that split-second look. that's why when i have made a personal milestone, i peer really hard at my father to see if i can catch that telltale sign.


now, these are men whose children will learn to appreciate only when they've grown mature enough. they are not easy to understand. in fact i realise that my daddy had always treated me as an adult. therefore he's always expected me to be mature enough to make the correct decisions. but being a kid, i always, always made the kiddy one i.e the wrong one. i hated the veto power he had over everything i did.

there was a time when i did not speak to him for months. didn't even acknowledge his presence even though he was right there beside me. and when day of reconciliation came, i saw my father cry for the first time in my life and at that point i knew, he is a human being, a mere man, and not a demi God. he is a man. he too cries. he's my father.

Saturday, January 08, 2005

we go back.. waaaay back

recently met up with a friend that i have not seen for yonks. and when i say yonks, i really mean yonks.

it was so great coz the reception i got when i walked into his place of work was a bunch of adorable dogs just running up to you and my, they are soooo friendly!!

rufus has grown soooo big! still so cute.

ok, back to my friend. kev is an old buddy that i've known for more than ten years. we don't see each other very often, but somehow or rather, i never feel awkward or out of place each time i see him. we just pick up where we left off.

there has been ups and downs in both our lives, as well as friends that have moved on with their own lives. do we reminisce? seldom. we just catch up on our own lives and loved ones.

kev's doing something really great, i heard that on weekends he brings over some pets to some homes and let the underprivileged kids have a feel of what it's like to have an animal companion. now, this is not a one time thing. it goes on and on. and when the kids are capable of living live on their own, they leave the home but they've got a companion trotting next to them. ain't that cool!?

kudos to kev and all involved.

great to see you again kev.