Alpha - my first entry

My second try at blogging (lost my lst blog) and it's pretty surreal for me! There's so much to write about and yet where do I start? Like the song in "The Sound of Music" - let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start...

My first task at hand is to think of a suitable name for my blog. Shall I go for something profound eg of kings and cabbages...or something middle-of-the road eg musings...quick takes... etc? Took me quite a while to land up with "expresso88". Why the name? Firstly (and primarily) it's available and secondly I thought it fairly well represents of my upbringing - a mixture of western influence (the expresso-bit) and eastern culture (the ever-popular Chinesy 88). I suppose that's the basic composition of all 1st generation Chinese in Malaysia - educated in English but deeply rooted in the old ways of filial piety, tight family structure and submissive respect to parents and elders. Sad that with all the western influence slowly seeping into our cultural fabrics, it has become a normal and "acceptable practice" for kids nowadays to question the status quo and speak their minds openly to the elders without feeling any tinge of embarassment or remorse. In those days, arguments with parents or elders are unheard of and show of tantrums are usually ended with a tight slap across the face (not that my parents are privy to this, thank God!) or worse, a devastating, heart churning look from my mum that will transform any living creature into a quivering, self-repenting lump of human jelly. As you guessed it by now, that's an old-time skill that has been relegated to the age of dinosaurs by the advent of the television and modern media and what they call, freedom of speech and expression.

I'm finally on the information highway and hurtling towards my dreams of writing my memoirs (not that I'm such an influential figure that people will scramble to buy up the rights to publish) but a simple series of musings, thoughts and reflections that, perhaps may be preserved for posterity for my kids and my kids' kids, so that one day they may understand and remember me by. Of course, also before Alzeimer sets in. Yes ,humility is something I should work on more...

My earliest recollection of my childhood days was pre-school. How can I forget? I was the only kid in a house of adults. My earliest playmates were kids from the kampong settlement at the back of my grandma's house. For the likes of me, I can't remember what race they were. All I knew then was that they were MY friends and MY faithful companions.....a philosophy that I have always carried with me, even to this day - I'm colour and gender blind when it comes to friends. I just can't understand why with all the knowledge and education that's around, we have not understood nor accepted this simple concept that the only difference between one human and another is the language. Learn the language and you can bridge the gap.

I remember there were 2 girls (both sisters) and an extremely naughty boy who were the group bully. All of them were older than me. Don't remember their names...we were friends for full 4 years (before we were disbanded due to geographical relocations) and somehow got through with no names mentioned. Anyway would have forgotten even though if we knew each others' names then. They were my teachers to the ways of the world...I owe them so much. The girls taught me how to "cook" berry leaves and twigs without fire and arrange a neat spread in a professional table setting (a skill I could actually use during my domestic science days in Form 3). The boy taught me the survival skills - fishing for guppies in drains, climbing trees, catching bugs to add to my culinary repertoire, and of course, smashing marbles...all amazing stuff : ) ....and we didn't have computers, PS2 or what-nots in those days. The only toys were the cheap plastic dolls, which we used for target practice. Not sure if there were Barbie dolls then. If there were, they would have ended up the same way as the plastic ones or worse, would have stood in as dunking dummies. Well...we were very much engaged most of the time. So much to do and discover, no time to disturb the adults. I don't remember my grandma having any sleepness nights over what I did , who I was with or where I was. Why should she? I was a well behaved girl (ahem!) and there were no modern day crime to worry her...no kidnapping of kids....no muggings.....no rapes....no political shenanigans. The only shocking crimes I vaguely remember (it was talked about for days among the adults) were when some "hippies" crashed their car into a cow (how yucky!) and some GIs came to my uncle's shop and teased my aunt. Wow! So happening!

We weren't rich then nor had we all the trappings of modern day comfort, but it's the simple things I remember and cherish most. Nothing is worth more than such sweet (sometimes bitter) recollections that make me say...."Ah....those were the good days..."