5:45 AM
year in year out we see the same people at the same house. the adults talk, the children play, and the youngsters just watch tv and never talk to one another. today my sister started talking to some other youngsters sitting on the same sofa as us, and i asked perhaps the most constructive question ever:
so, are we cousins?
and after so many years, i finally found out that they are my father's father's brother's daughter's children. in other words, my grand-uncle's daughter's children. in other words, my father and their mother are cousins. in other words, yeah, we are cousins.
when it was time to leave, it was only right we ended our conversation with a "see you next year".
*
perhaps the most traditional indicator of growing up is non other than the yearly spurts of chinese new year visiting. you realise you are no longer playing outside on the swing. you are sincerely amazed at how much a kiddo has grown since you last saw her a year ago, and you silently imagine yourself telling her, "i watched you grow up". you can't believe that the conversations you have with people your age now revolve around which places to club and the direction the economy is heading. you wonder if it's a sign relatives start asking whether you're working now.
all those, amidst austin powers showing in the background, uncles talking about the building industry at the steps, young adults discussing their children's primary one experiences near the door, peals of laughter floating in from the swing outside, and youngsters slouched on the couch watching austin powers showing in the background.
(but of course we broke that today)