Yes, the year is coming to an end and what most people
do around this time is talk about what they will like to do in the coming new year … their plans,
ambitions, resolutions, goals and dreams. Very good, it shows that many people
have so much to look forward to in the year ahead and maybe also the many years
to come.
What about me? Do I have anything to look forward to?
Hmmmm, let’s see ... I don’t have big plans nor do I have
great ambitions and I don’t make resolutions. I have achieved most of my goals
already … quite easily because I did not set anything difficult to attain
and I am not the kind who shift goal post frequently … you can say I am an
easily contented person. And now I seek memories rather than dreams.
So ... what to look forward to?
Well, I think I have a lot of time … yes, a lot of time since I don't have much to chase after ... so I will look forward to
spend some time. So really, for next year I will just do exactly what I did this year and
the few years before … just continue to spend my time doing what I like … simple,
easy and happy.
In the last few years, I have spent quite a bit of time with
my wife and kids. So I probably will continue to do that … make time for each
other and make do with the time we have to talk to each other, laugh at each
other, make a fool of each other, joke with each other, poke at each other and
last but not least (at times) annoy each other.
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| Family time at the beach |
We cannot afford to go on long overseas holidays or
expensive family outings or generous celebrative occasions but we can have many
spans of time in our everyday activities. Maybe it is just a drive to school, a
bite at McDonalds, a quick teh tarik and roti at the local mamak , a pep talk
over dinner at home, a trip to the hypermarket for groceries, a movie on
weekends or maybe a short escape from the heat to the local malls ... the important
thing is that in those spans of time, we talked … about this, about that …
about everything. Our conversations vary from schools to markets, clothes to
movies, food to books, friends to pets and sports to fashions. This is how we bond
and how we constantly stay connected. I am happy with these moments … this is
my idea of spending quality time.
Others have different thoughts about quality time … whatever
it is, it is important to build a bond and stay connected. But very often I see,
though the people are together ... everyone seems to be corresponding, engaging,
interacting and somehow connected only to their smart devices. Sad but it is
happening.
Anyway ... apart from my family, I would like to spend time with
my friends. Whether it is for our usual trek in the jungles or our foodie trips
to small towns or budgeted overseas tours or pot luck parties with our families or just
a boys’ night out to talk about anything and everything under the sky … I want
to continue doing what we have been doing for the many years to come.
You see, we are a bunch of old uncles who have known each
other for almost half our lives and a few I have known for more than 40 years.
We don't have to gather in “happening” places or have expensive sumptuous meals or attend some posh events so that we can have “glamour”
photos to post on social media … nope, we are comfortable drinking coconut
water under a tree or having a cheap beer in a coffee shop or cramping in our old
cranky van on an outskirt road looking for small town street food.
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| Boys' night out |
Even though among ourselves there are those who are well-off
and affluent but when we meet, we don’t equate ourselves in material status and
we don’t compare our monetary worth … there is one simple thing that we valued very
high between all of us and hold close to our hearts and it does not
cost anything at all ... yes, absolutely free … it is what we called friendship.
So to my friends … whether you like it or not, in the coming
years you will see me very often.
After allocating time for my family and friends … I think I
still have some time to spend … time for myself. I like having personal moments … I mean
apart from those I spent sitting in the toilet every morning.
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| A quiet moment over a cup of tea |
I like the cold breezy moments of some days where I can have
a pot of “puer” while relaxing in the midst of the greens in my garden,
listening to the sound of the water fountain and letting my mind wanders into
memory lanes. I look forward to rainy days where I can just step out for a rain
shower that reminds me of my younger days basking in the rain half naked or
just sitting in my garden, looking at the rain drops falling and idling into nothingness …
strange but this is how I recharge.
Sometimes I
have the house to myself for a few hours ... the time to bring out my erhu and try to screech out a new song to
the annoyance of my three helpless dogs. Very often, I will suddenly flip into karaoke
mode forcing air out of my lungs through my cheap ‘pasar malam’ cordless mike
that makes it sounds like someone pulling a cow up the tree … ok, ok that
is an exaggeration ya … so far I think I must have sounded quite alright as the
neighbours have yet to complain.
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| Working on my wood art |
If I get my hands on some wood and pallets … I can indulge a
bit of time trying to put what I learned from art school to good use … cranking
loud noises on the electric saw and drills to the curiosity of my very
tolerating neighbours hoping to churn out some recycle art pieces or some DIY
furniture.
And after all that and if I still have time left ... don’t
worry, my wife will make sure I put it to good use with a list of chores and
errands to keep my butt away from the chair.
So what’s up for 2017? Nothing much really ... no plans, no
ambitions, no resolutions, no goals and no dreams ... just plenty of time to
spend.
