What an eventful week. Just when I thought I could sit back and relax because I have written a whole week worth of blog entries, my best buddy in Singapore popped the question … to my little sister. So time to dig up one of the old photos that my pa has recently digitalized and start writing.
I began today like every other day, happy and energized, and then my phone beeped. I have one new message, from my sister. That’s odd. We are in excellent term, of course. But we seldom communicate. I opened up the message and she said Benny has proposed!
Wow! I must have felt like I have won a million dollar lottery at that moment.
Flash back to my previous short visits to home in Hong Kong over many years, inside a low lit living room my ma and I sat opposite each other. My pa was asleep in the bedroom with the door ajar. Our dog rested comfortably on his bed looking curiously at us. And I would start the conversation, like I always did, with “So, has sis hinted anything yet?” My ma’s response varied but both of us would end up sighing, staring at space, and I would say, “Look ma, all in good time.”
Now, at least we don’t need to think of when my sister will be getting married. Yay?
So I met up with Lora for dinner and I couldn’t wait to hear about our parents’ responses. “I called this morning waking ma up from her dreamland,” she said. “You did?” I asked. “Yes, and she was initially happy, then she paused,” my sister paused. “And?” I asked eagerly. “Ma asked if I have said yes,” she continued.
Did my sister say yes?!
I laughed so hard. OK. I personally don’t think any response other than a yes would be possible. And my sister would have had a lot of explanations to me had she even said maybe. Seriously … ha ha ha.
Anyway, knowing how dramatic my family is, I was eager to hear my pa’s response. “He was excited of course,” my sister said. “Of course,” I replied. “And he asked if the proposal was sincere,” she smiled. “What is a sincere proposal?” I asked in puzzlement.
It is good that both of our parents are so supportive. Being a big brother, my response was totally business-like. After a business-like congratulations as though Lora has just won a million dollar deal, my action oriented nature kicked in. So I advised, “You have to perform a stakeholder analysis, sis.” “A stakeholder analysis?” my sister was awed. Yes, we have to figure out what Benny’s parents’ expectations are like, what about our parents, what is the time line like, and budget, and have you started to think of the brothers and sisters team, who are the event organizers, are there going to be two wedding dinners in two different locations, formal versus informal, who will be there, Church wedding, which country will go first, outsource versus insource …
I bet Lora was amazed at what went inside my head. But seriously, there is nothing to be amazed about. Success is when preparation meets opportunity. I have been dreaming of today for a long, long time.
Back to my pa’s response that got me puzzled, I called home after we reached home. 5 minutes had passed and he was just asking about me. OK, did pa get it from my sister at all? I didn’t want to be the first to break the news. “So pa, Lora is getting married, are you happy?” I casually asked. He replied, “She is not getting married.” I paused, panicked, and continued, “Yes she is. Hasn’t she told you this morning?” “She is getting engaged,” my pa said it as-a-matter-of-fact. “Pa?!” I screamed, “It’s the same!” “Did she say yes?” he asked. “Pa?! Of course she said yes,” I laughed. “Was the proposal sincere?” he queried.
Uh-huh?
“How would I know, pa?!” I genuinely didn’t know. “Did he get on his knee when he proposed?” he asked. “How would I know, pa?!” I genuinely didn’t know that either. “What century are we in now? People don’t do that anymore in real life,” I added.
Do we? Maybe people do. Maybe Benny did.
And as of this very moment, my ma is still outside partying and celebrating so I have yet to speak with her on the phone. Anyways, many congratulations to my beloved little sister and my best buddy Benny. Stay tuned.
