All right, more on the random thought from my parties over the past weekend. The locals here have been counting down for Christmas. During this period of time, it is a tradition here to have some kind of special wine/softdrinks and cakes/cookies for this festive season. Though I haven't ditched "Mr. Laziness" yet to return to the badminton team, the organizer, KL, who is also my senior pal invited me to this pre-Christmas celebration for the badminton people.
The weekly game finished around 1pm. I went to the sport center to meet them. An hour later we arrived at KL and her hubby's house. It's really an elegant antique house, I heard it's like more than 100 years old.
Initially the celebration was meant to be a simple lunch and the highlight should be the afternoon tea with the traditional goodies for Christmas. However it turned out to be close to two hours delay and we started the afternoon with the pre-Christmas afternoon tea first. Everyone was starving so we really enjoyed the special warm wine exclusively for Christmas. The warm wine just went perfectly well with the cakes at this freezing cold weather. We have two team members from China who know how to handmake dumplings. Therefore the rest of us were assisting our two chefs in making those dumplings from scratch. Ok, I cheated a bit here. I didn't help. I was the photographer that afternoon snapping pictures here and there. *lol*
I managed to catch a few words with KL. I haven't really talked to KL for a long while. Sometimes I bumped into her at work but we were always in a hurry that we hardly talk. So while the rest were busy outside the dining hall preparing the food, KL and I were doing some kitchen washing and chopping. We took the opportunity to check each other out. KL recently had a job change. We all knew that was a tough decision for her especially she had been in her previous profession for 15 years. But when there's left with no other better option, I would say KL certainly has made a wise decision. I actually admire her of having the courage to make a career change at her age. I was a little shocked when KL didn't mention much about her new job but about her bad terms with her husband's family. She was deeply distressed about her not being accepted as part of the family. I really felt sorry for her because I know KL is genuinely a nice lady. Though there's a big difference of her own culture with her husband's, we all could see that she's really working a lot in drawing the gap closer. Yet after being married for so many years, she's still not regarded by his family as part of the family. So much so that I would like to help KL, but this type of problem is too complicated to deal (especially for outsider) with and won't be solved within days. Perhaps the best way is to provide a pair of eyes to her. I'll try to arrange to meet with her during the holidays.
On the other hand, Mrs Nice and her mother-in-law are getting along really well. Mr. Nice's mother came here to help the new parents. I have been to their place two times and through my observation they are like mother and daughter with natural interaction. I always wanted to ask either of them but thought that would be awkward. However during this gathering, Mr. Nice's mother came to join us. I remember she's talking about she and Mrs Nice's conversation during Mrs Nice's labor pain. Mrs Nice noted to her mother-in-law that at that moment she knew it was not easy to be a mother (from her labor pain). Her mother-in-law responded, "I'm glad that you realize it now. So next time make sure you won't back talk to your mother."
She further clarrified that her in-law kinship with Mrs Nice has been well. This is because they maintain it quite well within a boundary, not too close like mother and daughter yet close enough as a family. She then elaborated that sometimes when mother and daughter are too close, they may take each other for granted. Also sometimes distance creates the beauty in human relation. It makes you appreciate more of a person when you're away from them. I have to agree with this. I used to take my family for granted. But when I had to leave home at 17, I began to realize I was so fortunate when I was at home. Everything was taken care of. The family bond was stronger after I left home.
One of the good things I like about gatherings is I get to listen to others' stories/experiences/views. It is just like a third eye or the fourth ear in absorbing others' life experiences, which may serve as a mirror and guidebook for me. Of course the company of my friends and the food and drinks make the gatherings merry too. :)
♥ every page of my imagination
