Chinese New Year

Tomorrow's Chinese New Year. Yippee. Will be going back to Malacca today.... Can't wait. That's always, like, the best part of CNY. Everyone gets together, stays together, plays together, gets richer (or poorer.. depending on your marital status :P) together.... It's altogether a really fun time.

This year, though, is going to be slightly different - bitter-sweet's the word for it, I guess. Since my grandmother died last year, we won't be officially celebrating CNY. And to make things worse, this'll be the last year we go down to Malacca for CNY because with both grandparents gone, the uncles 'n' aunts find no reason for everyone to go all the way to Malacca when 90% of us are in KL.

Which basically sucks. Because ever since we were BORN we've been going back for CNY. Every single year! It's like a tradition - ingrained into us. I can bet that CNY without Malacca will never feel like CNY. To us grandkids, Malacca = CNY, and that's the bottom line. With everyone in KL, we'll probably meet for say... dinner. Then everyone'll go their separate ways. Sigh.

That said, you can bet us cousins will try and make the most of this "last trip". We'll go to the Jetty, tramp over to the Portugese settlement, buy instant noodles from the 7 Eleven, eat all the Malaccan food we can find (it doesn't taste as good in KL).... Argh! I'm still so so so sad!!!! :(

I suppose we'll give it a shot and go down on our knees and beg our parents to reconsider. Our reactions may seem extreme, but CNY in Malacca has always been very, very special to all the kids. Family-bonding time, and all that nonsense. I know for sure that I'll always feel that something's missing. It may fade in time, but I doubt I'll ever have as much fun as I've had every year for 18 years - ever again. Sniffles.

Anyway, wishing you guys a very Happy Chinese New Year and I hope you get lots and lots and lots of ang pows! God bless.