'May the Good Lord Bless You, Aunt'

We toasted to my aunt, she's seventy four today.

I was awkwardly seated (more like placed) at the table while mum was in the kitchen, busily preparing to serve the birthday luncheon to the guests.

Instead of having someone say grace before we ate, we sang two hymns - another awkward moment; where everyone was singing them by heart and I was barely mouthing the words (confession: with an obviously desperate and monotonous lag) - if I had kept silent, I would have felt worse.

There were no candles placed on the superbly icing-fantastico cake (pardon me - I'm still sugarhigh); though I did hear someone at the table mentioning something about 'one candle representing seventy four' - but in good jest and birthday spirit, she made a blowing impression anyway and explained that she had imaginary lit candles on it [=)]. As usual, close friends and family members had to tell her to sit down and enjoy her own birthday celebration, as she is always in good mind to be hospitable; the best caliber of hospitality that anyone would ever have / be treated to, and this was her birthday.

Though beer was served to those who requested: but I didn't - I still had some poured into my glass by a close friend of aunts' (whom was seated on my right); yet another person who saw me grew up - but obviously didn't like beer (someone had given it to her, but she was too polite to refuse it), and took to dissolving that which remained in her cup by adding ginger beer. Before I could decline, she went on to do the same for mine - and after having a few gulps (as I was too polite not to drink it), I ended up formulating this equation: [Carlsberg Beer] + [Ginger Beer] = [A good remedy for a hangover].

Small talk was made over what I've been doing over in Penang - to which, my reply was: "Purchasing; I'm a Purchaser" (my exact words) - and in response, a number of guests laughed; and this surprised me as I didn't think it funny to begin with (yet another situation where I question the comedic value of me being actually dead-serious). Now (I shudder to think but), a really something-hits-the-fan situation, accompanied by a great silence at the long table would present itself had someone pursued the conversation further and asked so what exactly are the spare parts that you deal with?

Oh? I deal with spare parts for gaming and amusement machines.

And greed keeps the world going round.

I proceeded to wash and rinse a good number of plates, cups, utensils, etc after having my slice of cake with aunt, family and her guests - while mum and our neighbor's help took a break to sample the birthday luncheon which they prepared.

Uncle J had asked aunt earlier: what do you do when you are given the gift of Life? [I felt lucky that I would not have him at any of my birthdays (but forgive me, uncle J) - as I was actually stumped by the question; and probably would have given a dumb answer where in response, people laughed - and again: I'd be questioning my potential career in Malaysian stand-up comedy].

Live it!, she said without hesitation [=)].

Afterwhich, he went on to relate a whole lot of things to her statement (and all in concurrence), where it was mostly centered around diets and food-intake - what's the point of living, if you can't eat things which you enjoy?. I would presume that no cake was left because of his speech.

Correction: Supremo Icing-fantastico Cake.

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