A New Year, a New Reflection...

For the record, I'll turn 46 come September 2011.

Back when I was in my early teens, my parents weren't doing very well for quite some time.

My mom owned a hair saloon in Chinatown waaaay back then. I was in Victoria Institution. I walked back to my mom's hair saloon after school.

Most times, when I needed new clothes, or when I pestered my mom for some fancy clothes, my mom would take me to Chinatown to buy all the cheap fake stuff there.

Initially I didn't know most of the stuff sold in Chinatown were fake stuff; I was just happy getting new tees, new jeans, new whatever that my mom bought me. Then my "rich" friends in school "revealed" to me about Chinatown.

That was when I was very down. I told my mom. My mom said "Don't listen to your "friends"... mommy loves you."

Being in my early teens, I was obviously still disappointed. In this modern materialistic and "must have face" world, I am sure most would feel the same way too.

I did complain a few times to my mom; she mostly just tried to evade my complains and instead asked me things like "You know I love you, right?" or "Do you have any homework that I can help you with?" or "How was your schoolday?.

In my 46 years of existence, there are not many things that I can remember, things that stand out. But I do remember one thing.

One day, me+family were on a rare trip to a shopping mall. I guess it's like a "vacation" to me. My mom took me to the jeans section and started choosing a pair of jeans for me. I was very very happy. Then I looked at the prices of the jeans. I told my mom "But Mummy, these jeans are so expensive!!! Why not we just buy the jeans near the saloon?".

My mom answered "Remember what I told you? I said I love you, boy. I know you want these original jeans... I know you will feel better wearing these when you're with your friends. But you can have only one. Let's see which one looks good on you..."

My mom is 80 years old come May 2011.

Happy New Year to all and may all of you be happy this year.