Ponggal

Dear Bloggy ,

A blackout of news from me . Sorry about that . Was still feeling tired and I can't figure out why .

A hive of activity among my neighbors today , Bloggy . Ponggal Day for my Hindu neighbors . The whole episode of being busy busy busy started yesterday of cleaning   up their house and  hosed down their  front porch . Could see them putting up some decorations at their doorways . Mango leaves tied up and strung and sugar canes at their door ways too .

 I could hear bells being rung since early morning . Each house was doing that as they started their prayers . Could hear chantings too being played out loud on cassette players . Quite a riot actually ...my level of tolerance and acceptance at its best now . My nostrils being tested to its maximum as am inhaling a high dose of incense burnt by my immediate neighbor .

I know another neighbor was busy boiling rice and milk in a pot outside their house ....a way of saying thank you to the Sun God ....for the abundance and plentiful harvest they made . None of my neighbors are farmers though ...but somehow they followed  this tradition of saying thank you to the Sun .

A buzz of excitement from my neighbors as the milk started to boil . I did not hear any shouting of Ponggol Ponggol .I wish I could go over and take a few pictures but at times we have to respect them and let them do their obligations in peace and not being  spied on ...

Another neighbor put out a display of fruits ..apples , sugar canes and bananas in the sun . Two sticks of lighted incense stuck into a banana , plus some flowers and the cooked rice and milk in another plate . I saw Arvin ( my immediate neighbor ) with the lamp in his hand praying to the sun .

Ooooo...I just have to close  all my  doors as the incense smell is getting too overbearing . Could caused one to puke and feel nauseated too if inhaled too much . Plus headaches too .

Gotta go now . The need to go marketing and send my children to the library . Now when am I going to do my baking ?

Just me ....

Dancy 

Blast From The Past

Dear Bloggy ,

Can't believe I am in my own house now . Five days ago I was in Miri ....meeting my sister and catching up news with my brothers who dropped by the house . Of course meeting and hugging my darling father was the top most priority . It was good to be home...familiar smell , familiar atmosphere and familiar faces . Home sweet home .

An old childhood friend and her daughters came over to my father's house . It was just great to have met her again ; sharing and comparing news . Yes ...the friendship withstand the test of time . So much laughter as past episodes were dug up and shared with her family . How they laughed and could not believe the antics her mother and me were up to . 

It was sweet of her to take me out for a spin in her car as well as to meet up with somebody from the past . Somebody who had scared the living daylights out of us . How this guy would stop us in our tracks just to check on our bicycles . We were just at his mercy . How we cursed and swore at him after that .

Of course he could not recognized me . But when I mentioned my late brother's name who happened to be his colleague , the puzzles fell into place . We were able to talk of the past and the present . I can't believe he was so well behaved in his ordinary clothes ; and not in his uniform . He had since retired and am now doing his business of selling ' satay ' . 

Ya ...in a way I was glad to have met him again . Bet he can't believe he was haunted by his past ; bet he can't believe somebody got to tell and remind him of the things he did to us when we were kids . Bet he felt sheepish about it to be confronted in his old age . 

Honest to God ...my intention is just to meet him ; how he looked as we all aged . I just want to say I'm sorry too for all the nasty remarks I had made years ago . He was caught by surprise when I asked for his forgiveness . He smiled as we ' bersalam '  and parted ways .

I felt good now that I had met that somebody from the past...somebody who shared a part of my childhood ; who became a part of my memories too .

I gotta go now Bloggy ...plenty of things to do in this house now that I am home .

Till then..........

Dancy