Reunion Dinner 2010

We have just finished reunion dinner over at my Pa's place. This "reunion dinner" thingy is an extremely Chinese event, and if any Chinese were to pick an event to miss in all of the year, this would not be the one. In fact, and the memory is more than fuzzy now, my parents actually told me once I could drop my family name henceforth if I were to be absent for a particular reunion dinner. This was the occasion where the Chinese New Year straddled some long weekend (just like 2010); I had just started working and was not used to the stresses and pressures that are now commonplace and wanted to go on a holiday to unwind. I have heard stories, all true, no doubt, where sons and daughters would travel half the world away just to be present with their parents (and grandparents) for the reunion dinner.

The long and short to it all is that I did travel on holiday, the morning after the reunion dinner. The Chinese New Year first day receipt of blessing and paying of respects was not as important as the reunion dinner the night before.

Jamie, Nisa and I returned home to Laguna for the reunion dinner 2010. Wee Khiang, Pauline and their 3 kids were there and the family was complete. The dishes have become the same over the years and as always, we ate too much.

Poor Jamie slept through it all because he's ill. He went swimming twice today and when it came time to travel to Laguna, he was tired and also, there was some water stuck in his ear. He arrived all tired, in a bad mood and slept the moment we arrived at Laguna for dinner. I am a little worried because I don't want a ear infection to come around, seeing how uncomfortable this can be, especially around the holidays in which he should be cavorting around merrily.

Jamie sleeping through reunion dinner reminded me of when I did the same maybe 5 years back. We were just married and again, it was a very busy time because I was working on a large transaction. I was totally knackered on the eve of Chinese New Year and developed a migraine from the lack of sleep. Poor Nisa had to do the reunion dinner with my parents and the rest all by herself because I had to sleep off the migraine. She said she had to eat something strange that night (its really some chinese delicacy that is traditionally enjoyed on special occasions) but she has grown used to it now.

Insya-Allah, my boy will sleep through it all and tomorrow will be a nice CNY for him (and all of us).