This Chinese New Year - Joseph Germani Hi, Ive been writing stories and poems, its time for me to pen down my personal thoughts today. I just had reunion dinner with my mother, stepdads not around so its just the both of us today. Throughout the dinner, people were a little puzzled by why we, a typical looking chinese family of 2 is having dinner at a thai restaurant. I couldnt blame them, 99% of Chinese families usually gathers for reunion dinner. So, we looked like the odd one out. Since I was 1, my parents got divorced, and my mothers family isnt the type of people that managed to keep the family tree standing tall. So, we lost contact with them too. We spoke mostly about the family that we once had today. On my mothers side, I have 2 uncles, and 2 aunts which makes a lot of cousins. Our family used to gather when I was in primary school but that was gone not long after my grandmother passed. Well, I miss my grandmother. Though she wasnt the type that shows affection verbally, I knew that she cared. She was there when my mom was going through tough times of the separation. She will decorate the whole home with cheesy chinese decorations, and tell me stories that always seem to interest me. One Uncle stood out from that family. One that pointed middle finger to my face, claiming that his son (my cousin) was smarter than I was and I was going to be the one who will fail (PTS) exam. The irony was, I passed and his son didnt. For a brief time when I was younger, I hated this man. Though, he was always admirable, smart, and great in add maths. He was sophisticated. Maybe, just maybe he didnt really know how to deal with me. Me and my mom talked more about the rest of the family, how cousins who used to be good looking has now changed, how some of them has changed in terms of facial features, how everyone has somehow now grew older. Then came the discussion about my ex-father side. To be honest, I dont really care a lot about anyone but just my grandmother from that side. I am blessed to have 2 grandmothers that showered me with their love in their own ways. One memory that I have kept is, when I was hungry, shell always cook up a bowl of Cintan noodles, and make sure that I get full. There was always an ingredient that she put in to add that extra taste. I never got to know that ingredient until today, its celery. Found out that about a year ago, she had a stroke, and a few weeks ago she fell down again. Im sorry that your grandchild wont be able to take care of you in this life, maybe the next? I am sure everyone thats around you will take care of you. I blame nothing but fate that brought all of our families apart. Do know that I will be praying for you here. Ill always remember you, Mama (Grandmother). You and your strange figures of ringgits in angpaus, I found out that it meant something, you wanted me to have a certain kind of luck. Thanks. My Stepdads not around this CNY. Hes busy working and flying around between Malaysia, Indonesia and Italy. What an admirable man, such a hardworking human being at his age. This years CNY was just missing out on one thing, my stepdad. I dont know if I miss those times when I am involved in a larger family, which brings me those times of gambling, watching TV or having dinner in a typical chinese restaurants. I am numbed by what I life is now. I have no complaints. My family is not huge, but who said it needs to be a pool of people for it to be a family. Plus, now, I have my girlfriend, friends, real friends mind you. People who I genuinely care about and also feel the same towards me. Now they are my family. To those who are having reunion dinner tonight, family, big or small, have a great one. Really communicate with your family. Youll be a happier person. Nonetheless, Happy Chinese New Year Guys. Lets make it count. JG
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:57:24 +0000
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