Dear
diary,
Time
flies. I sent Meimei back to her college this afternoon. Very soon, she would
be finishing her course and be a real adult. It seems like just yesterday when
she was still in her blue school uniform.
Before
she left, she said “Mom, enjoy your date with Mr Shinny.” What a naughty girl!
That nick name stuck with Shannon when the first time she saw him in his neat
outfit and his well polished shoes. I guess Shannon has always dressed up
neatly wherever he goes. Or rather he goes to places which require him to dress
up. We had never gone to a mamak, come to think about it.
I’ve
got to do something to that cactus. I haven’t watered it for a long time now. It
is not dead yet but it’s not growing too. Maybe Meimei was right, if it’s not
growing for past 6 years, it will not grow at all. Maybe I will just give it a
few more months.
I
will pick up Lydia from airport tomorrow and have a long coffee chat with her.
She must have lots of interesting stories to share after 3 weeks trekking in
the Himalayas.
Shannon
has asked me to join him for dinner at Tsukishima tomorrow. That’s very sweet
of him to remember I like the okonomiyaki served in that nice and friendly
restaurant. It will be good date. He is a sweet and fun guy.
Our
new neighbour moved in and I waved and smile at them. They looked like nice
people.
17
Oct 18, Saturday. Sunny.
Dear
diary,
Came
back early from dinner. The food didn’t taste as good as last time. Shannon
told me he got promoted to Product Marketing Director, or is it Regional Sales
Manager? I wasn’t paying attention.
The
lighting was a bit dim and the waitress looked unhappy. Maybe she has problems
at home?
Shannon
said he is going to Spain (or is it Italy or Belgium?) for 2 weeks on business
and asked if I want to come along. I said I will check my work schedule first.
Drove
past old town and many of the shops are still there, including the McD and the
old kopitiam. Wonder if the old man still sells his super tasty nasi lemak.
Haven’t been there for so long, probably 6 years since the last visit.
Lydia
came back in one piece and good spirit, except for a sprained ankle. She showed
me many beautiful pictures of the snow capped mountains and crystal clear
streams in the Himalayas. They are just splendid.
She
bumped into him at a local hospital where she was being treated for her ankle.
She said he had a broken arm, caused by a fallen cross beam from the
construction site of a mini hydro generator at a remote village in the south
east region. She said he dressed like a labourer, looked tired and bit haggard,
probable due to long distance he had to travel to get to the hospital.
I
gave the cactus a good shower and cleared the weeds that were growing around
it.
18
Oct 18 - Sunday. Gloomy.
Dear
Diary,
Another
normal, tiring day at work.
I
came home and found a small piece had broken off from the cactus. It must have
been the pigeons.
If
cactus is a man, he must be a very strong person both physically and mentally,
to be able to withstand all these harsh assaults from the surrounding.
I
stopped at the old kopitiam for breakfast. The old man had retired since 3
years ago and now his son has taken over the nasi lemak stall. The taste is not
the same anymore. The sambal was too sweet and the onion tasted raw. Even the
ikan bilis didn’t taste the same.
Our
usual table under the fan has been replaced by a new IKEA plastic table. Things
are never the same anymore. I guess, they never stay permanent. “Nothing is
permanent”, he liked to say.
Had
a missed call from Shannon. Will return his call tomorrow from office.
19
Oct 18 - Monday. Rainy.
Dear
Diary,
A
very busy day at the office. The regional big boss is due to visit and every
department is preparing power point for the big meeting.
I
skipped lunch and stayed in the office. It was too hectic to go out during
lunch hour.
I
checked on the internet during lunch break and found that the political unrest
is escalating in Nepal now. The Maoist separatists are mounting attacks on the government
in the remote regions. I wonder how safe
it is now in Nepal.
Shannon
called and asked my decision on the Europe trip. I said I can’t go because I
can’t take leave then. He sounded disappointed but still asked me to go dinner
on Saturday. I said I will call him again.
I
have asked Lydia out for coffee and girls talk tomorrow night. We have lots to
catch up.
Nothing
has changed with the cactus. It still stands there as it always does. Maybe it
is in hibernation or in deep meditation.
20
Oct 18 – Tuesday. Cloudy.
Dear
Diary,
Meimei
came back for the weekend. I made her favourite pumpkin soup and we had great
quality time together. She has grown so much and is now a mature adult. At the
same time, it also means I m getting older. Sigh.
She
asked me how’s going with Mr. Shinny and why didn’t I go to Europe with him. It
seems she is encouraging me to have another go at relationship. Thanks girl.
There
had been a few attacks on government’s infrastructure in Nepal last few days. The
news says some foreign volunteer workers were injured in the attacks. Some NGO
are pulling out and repatriating their volunteer staff. Hope all is well with him.
Shannon
is flying to London tomorrow night. We had a quick meet up for lunch today at the
Ship. The nachos and wings were pretty good. For some reasons, I suddenly
longed for a plate of nasi lemak with hot sambal and a cup of black Hainan kopi.
I
watered the cactus and put a netting around it to keep away the pigeons.
24
Oct 18 – Saturday. Sunny
Dear
Diary,
We
went shopping and Meimei bought a bag full of cosmetic and accessories. I
frowned and she said she got it from me. We laughed. My younger days of
shopping frenzies came back to me. On dear.
I
took her to the old kopitiam and to my surprise the old guy came to the stall
today. I had a chat with him and asked him about his best-in-town sambal. He laughed
and said that will be passed down to his son. I tried the nasi lemak and indeed
it tasted much better than the other day.
There
is another pleasant surprise. A tiny green limb grows on the cactus. It is finally
out of hibernation and coming back to life.
He
sent me an email and said he will be back in country to treat his arm. The
situation is not safe for them to stay in Nepal and he needs a long rest. Do I
want to see him again after all these years? I don’t know.
25
Oct 18 – Sunday. Sunny
Dear
Diary,
I
went to the Merci-corp web site to check on their activities in Nepal and saw him
in one of the pictures. They were building some sort of power system. He was in
faded jeans and had a dark green scarf around his neck. He still has it after
so many years.
The
young man has learnt well from his father. His nasi lemak is almost as good as
his dad’s. There’s something good in life, at least.
Meimei
will be going to Singapore for a seminar organised by the college. It must be
fun to do all these when you are young. Good luck, girl.
The cactus
is turning from brown to greenish now. It is really growing now. Everything
deserves a 2nd chance, I guess. When time comes, the right thing
will happen.
29
Oct 18 – Thursday. Sunny
