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My Father Is A Farmer

..and we work work work the day away.

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I'm Devastated

It's been exactly a day since I left the examination centre, and it took me just as long to realise something.

I left my water bottle behind.

It dawned on me when I woke up an hour ago. I always reach out for the bottle as soon as I wake, to rehydrate myself before the morning Marlboro Light. Drink water, smoke, brush teeth after. Tried and tested, works like a charm.

It wasn't there. My trusty moss-green Nalgene bottle wasn't anywhere to be found. Lemma puki chau cibai! I thought hard. Really hard. I went into the exam centre with my lucky, green bottle, but I didn't come out with it.

Why the fuss over a water bottle, you ask? Cue senti flashback moment.

2003, a month before I was supposed to fly to Dublin for the first time. My whole family was down in KL, doing some miscellaneous shopping. Our last chance to bond before their beloved son leaves for ten months straight. Before they have to suffer my absence. Oddly, they were in high spirits, they seemed pretty happy..

Hmm.

I remember I was in an outdoorsy bag shop, looking for a knapsack. My sister was commenting on how gay the colours were. My dad appeared by the shop entrance , clutching a plastic bag. He thrust it at me.

"Nah, this is for you.."

"Hami lanciau*? Water bottle? Damn kindergarten la wei.."

"Then what are you going to do about water? You're not spending my money buying bottled water everytime you go out.. Idiot.."

"Oh.. True also.."

"The guy took the bottle and threw it hard againt the marble floor. Didn't break. It can withstand temperatures of up to 150 degrees. So you can fill it with hot coffee, even soup.."

"But I don't know how to make soup.. Is that how the shop owner sells all his stuff? Ganas also.."

"Shut up. You get my point. I know you won't bring any of those Cina thermoses mom bought for you. So bring this."

"Thanks.."

You have no idea how much love was exchanged in that five minutes. My family works in an odd, businesslike way. There are never any hugs. No one says I love you. I have gone Street Fighter style against my dad on multiple occasions, at his provocation. My dad shook my hand before I got on the plane to Dublin. Get?

My dad never buys me something without me asking/begging/stealing his money for it.. So, this was definitely a senti memory worth preserving for the rest of my life.

And now the bottle's lost. Hope the exam centre keeps a lost and found. This happening in Ireland, I have a slightly higher probability of reuniting with my Nalgene than if I had lost it in Malaysia. I hope. Please please please.

An old friend once told me we suffer only because of the bonds we have.

I thought it was a lame ass line to get girls at the time, but I think I understand, today. I'm devastated.

*lanciau added for dramatic effect

  1. Anonymous Anonymous | 7/5/05 11:28 PM |  

    Wow. I feel sad too after reading this. Yeah, I guess it is rather senti. I think your Dad's sweet :) But I really, really hope you get it back. I left my lab coat and my AUD$150 Australian Medicines Handbook in uni yesterday .. so I kinda know how you feel. I hope I get my stuff back too ... :(

  2. Blogger tsh | 7/5/05 11:33 PM |  

    Hey hey..

    Here's to hoping we both get back what we want.. I won't know the outcome till Tuesday, when I sit for my next paper..

    Irritated like hell.. Ish..

  3. Anonymous Anonymous | 7/5/05 11:54 PM |  

    Well...I hope you both get back your stuff. It can be irritating like hell when you lost something or leave something behind. And your Dad's lawak la....no wonder u're so sott as well ;-) In the meantime...use cups!

  4. Blogger tsh | 8/5/05 3:53 AM |  

    Okay, the next time I go out I'll fill up a cup with water and keep it in my bag.

    Thanks for the advice.

    :D

  5. Anonymous Anonymous | 8/5/05 9:37 AM |  

    hahahaha.. cups are a good idea!!

    whoa, always thought your dad was gaya.. but now, he's gaya-rer..

  6. Blogger tsh | 8/5/05 9:39 AM |  

    what's so gaya?

    *confused*

  7. Anonymous Anonymous | 8/5/05 12:53 PM |  

    I meant using cups at home la doink! u BLUR

  8. Anonymous Anonymous | 8/5/05 12:58 PM |  

    gay-a?
    ??
    ;P
    just kidding.

    anyway, yeah, I left my green felton (yah yah, it's only worth RM5.90, but got senti reasons too)water bottle in the lecture hall once. And it never came back to me. Went there first thing in the morning to look for it and it's gone. Who the heck would wanna steal a water bottle with someone else's saliva on it. wah, if I have TB, good luck to the fella. :P No wonder mum asked me to bring the *Pink* bottle as well, Cos she knew I was going to lose one of it.. *ooooppss*

    Hope you'll get your bottle back, and your stuff too, Meiyun :)

  9. Anonymous Anonymous | 8/5/05 7:21 PM |  

    umm gaya as in cool.. not as in looks..

  10. Blogger tsh | 8/5/05 8:41 PM |  

    hmm..

  11. Anonymous Anonymous | 9/5/05 3:28 AM |  

    u might wanna smoke, drink water then brush teeth. LOL! i do that!

    eh, would you mind describing Cina thermoses????

  12. Blogger tsh | 9/5/05 3:32 AM |  

    those stainless steel kinds with a sticker of a flying horse/bicycle/tanglung on it..

    know what i mean?

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