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A collection of memoirs, musings and lessons as I go through life. A compilation of notes to self, a dossier documenting experiences in this...

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Reunion Dinner




















































This Chinese New Year would mark the first without my father, who taught me the beauty of upholding family values and tradition especially during CNY. He would be the beacon of family unity, always emphasizing on the importance of the reunion dinner. And this New Year also celebrates the first absence of Jon who in dying, taught me how to live. With the passage of time, and the even more certain passing on of loved ones, it is really up to us how we get on with milestones and events in our lives. For me, it is with these changes that enable, and cause new things, and new experiences, to happen in our lives. For it is also the wish of our dearly departed for us to really 'live'. I believe. This CNY, we had a wonderful change in having the Levers over for reunion dinner. It started with Johnny,Karen & Aunty bringing over bags of CNY goodies like beef rendang, sambal udang galah and Aunty's famous rice cakes for the dinner spread. Then the Godmas came over, one to cook her 'Double Happiness Chicken' dish, the other to take Zane & Summer out to town for lunch and abit of R&R. After doing the mandatory house clean up, hanging the red curtains, and changing the light bulb bit, I went to the florist to get New Year flowers while mum slaved over a hot stove with godma, preparing the reunion feast. As the evening neared, the carrot cake and brownies arrived, as did the children with Hanim, from their afternoon binge at Bintang Walk. A little later, Nigel and Peggy, with their bounty of dark vinegared trotters and more goodies also arrived. Then PoPo showed up, albeit briefly, to deliver her contribution of abundance to the feast. Mum's abalone mushroom with fatt choy began to materialize with the 'hee hee' 'haa haa' prawns. The whiff of 'double happiness terragon chicken' from the oven filled the house like a huge dose of well, 'double happiness'. With the house filling up as such, it was time to break open that delectable bottle of white wine I had chilling in the fridge- a 2005 New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. A real fine vintage and a refreshing start to a nice evening. Our wine glasses practically runneth over as the evening progressed, so we promptly switched to the Rioja that was brought from Spain and was waiting patiently in Jakarta until this auspicious occasion. The bright, ruby red Spanish 1998 vintage, made it's appearance most fittingly. Full round, ripe body with the characteristically dry Rioja taste and a bit of edge to it. Spunky, I'd describe it. Which was necessary to compliment the wide ranging taste sensations available for the night. Everyone had their fill of the sumptuous spread at our round table. For me, the taste was sweetness. The sweet taste of having our closest and dearest share our reunion dinner. The sweetness was heightened with dessert comprising happy fruits like; pistachios, cashew nuts, and very, very, sweet coconut candy complimenting the cakes on the table.
Change is a wonderful thing if you embrace it and make the best of it. "Xin Nian Kuai Le " everyone.

3 comments:

  1. Peter, it's Kuai not Quai. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh ya..forgot about this
    Happy New Year!!!Gong Xi Fa Chai..
    shall go 95% get ang pow from you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks speaker. Xin Nian Kuai Le.
    See you at 95%.

    ReplyDelete