Starting a Tradition

People should think things out fresh and not just accept conventional terms and the conventional way of doing things. ~ T.S. Elliot

It all started with Mazlin. As usual, Mazlin, Siti, Aida, Ann and I had a gathering at Ann’s place. Ann’s place is strategic for many reasons: 1) her husband is often not around 2) her place is really located at the center, within more or less the same kilometer radius from all of our places 3) she is the one who initiates the gathering and 4) she doesn’t mind the cooking. God bless you, Ann. So there we were lepaking like overweight pythons (after eating to our hearts’ content) on Ann’s comfy couch when Mazlin started to give each one of us a book. I don’t know why you did what you did but I thank you all the same, Mazlin. I got a book titled WHY MEN FALL ASLEEP AFTER SEX. I was ecstatic! Not so much for the knowledge I was going to discover in the book (‘cause I already know why they fall asleep) but for the thought that came with it.
Then we had another gathering at Ann’s place. This time, Aida gave each one of us a book. Siti also gave everyone but me a book (Siti, how could you??? I’d read any book that you give me...!). Anyway, I got a book titled THE PAINTED VEIL. I was ecstatic!! Then I thought, why not make it a habit, that each time we have a gathering, one of us gives a book to everybody, since 1) all of us love to read 2) we don’t see each other often so the book would be like a memento of our gathering. I thought it would be fun. Plus, nothing can beat the joy that radiates from the person who receives the book. I guess we started a tradition of our own. A tradition that I hope would last as long as our friendship. This reminds me, the next gathering it is my turn to give books :-)

Originally posted on http://izzyz7.reciter.com on 1 August 2007

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