Happy CNY'06

The three of us, Mom, bro and I had our little reunion dinner of sorts at home, come to think of it, i haven't had a proper dinner at home in a long time, so it was good to be home today.

I don't feel the hype of CNY, have i grown up, and grown out of the excitment? I remember the times during chu-xi, where the family would eat together, and there were a few years we would dress up in chinese-wear (silk robes and all) for the fun of it. And Daddy would give the kids ang-pows to put under the pillow. And the next day, we would have to wake up early, and greet out parents with two oranges and get more ang-pows! Then we'll settle down, eat nian-gao, and the rest of the goodies, and we'll all gather around to call my grandparents in Hong Kong. I would be so frightened to speak to my grandparents as my cantonese was bad and i was embarrased to speak, so before it was my turn, i would rehearse the few phrases i knew with my mom.."San neen fai lok..Gong hei fatt choy..", and the phone would be passed to me. And i'll get by my saying those few lines and making appropriate nosies at the various things my grandparents said After that, it's pooling into the car to go to my other grandma's place to start off the visitations. Those times are memories now.

I do miss times like those, it was a tradition we did year after year. The oranges, the sweets in the sweetbox, the little touches of red in the house, the pussy-willow tree, the new pajamas, the new clothes, the little handbad i would carry to put my ang-pows in...

Things do change. Then, there were four of us, but now there are three. Then, i would look foward to buying new clothes with my mom, and my dad would give us a budget, but now, it doesn't seem that necessary, as after i started working and earning my own keep, i get to buy clothes more often on my own.

Precious times those were, and there are moments when i wish for some things to remain the same. But at least i have them memories to keep. =)

San Neen Fai Lok to all of you!