Jan 13 2011
New Year’s Day – a day of ‘firsts’
As the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the last decade, both my husband Phillip and I were doing the countdown in church with other church members. The two hours of watch night service of praising God with songs, skits and testimony for the past year concluded with loud cheers, blowing of paper toy trumpets and other noisy party paraphernalia. This was followed by wishes and hugs with friends, and ended with supper at the church car park.
That was the beginning of many firsts for me and Phillip. It was the first time that the both of us were spending the New Year’s Day together after almost 30 years of marriage. It was also the first time that we had ‘nasi lemak’ to welcome the New Year!! The wee hour drive home at 1.30 am was also another first for us. Phillip’s setting up of the ‘Kang Family group on Facebook to welcome the new year was also a first.
Joining the family day celebration at 1 Utama’s Central Park is the first for the morning. Being One Card members, getting a goodie bag with a Transformer figurine toy with other little food stuff (maggi cubes and 3-in-1 Lipton tea), coupons for food and many other thrills was another exciting first.
Another first that was getting not only one but three caricatures of myself done for free by a caricature artist. I had to queue for about 30 minutes for my turn but that was worth it. The artist happily obliged to my request to draw me in three different scenarios – busy shopping, busy relaxing and busy being a rich woman. I was really pleased with the result.
Next I had body art – a rose – done on my right arm, another first for me. This was simply an airbrushed body tattoo, which didn’t last long. This was followed by free pedicure (plus cute little nail stickers).
Later in the day, another first – a frightening one – that I wished it hadn’t happened. I stepped on Phillip’s expensive new spectacles, which dropped onto the carpet when he fell asleep on the couch! Thank God the spectacles didn’t suffer any major damage and with a few twists and turns by Phillip, it was alright for now.
Towards the day’s end, another first was relaxing and watching ‘Black Adder’, a British comedy series from a DVD box set (a birthday gift from our son Nathanael to his dad) at 6 pm, when I should be making dinner in the kitchen.
What an eventful day for us! And many surprises to fill it. We ended the day with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all these firsts.