FAMILY COMMITMENTS AND HOW THEY DRIVE YOU MAD!

Chinese New Year is just 2 weeks away and already family arguments have begun. The main contention here is the fact that we are not supposed to hold any grand celebrations to usher in the year of the Dog as my father-in-law died in October 2005. The 100 days commerating his death actually falls on 28th January 2006 the eve of Chinese New Year. But due to some supersitious family members (main culprit my mother-in-law!) the prayers for that 100 day has been brought forward to 22nd January 2006.

This change of date has resulted in a lot of brouhaha amongst the siblings. The two brothers in Johor Bahru have stated that they will definitely not be home for Chinese New Year as they are financially strapped. One brother in Shah Alam is not sure but chances are he too is not making the trip home. So my better half decided that we too should stay put in KL as there will not be the usual reunion dinner and frankly he says he is not in the mood for any festivities as his dad is dead less than a year. Traditions should be observed by not observing the usual festivities associated with Chinese New Year as a mark of respect for his father.

To me that is wonderful news as I am sick of all the hypocrisy of certain siblings and even looking at them nauseates me! Now that I am back working, doing my own small business I am suddenly respected again and no longer a 'pariah'. When I had quit my job when i got pregnant in 2000, they treated me like I was dirt. Now that I am a small businesswoman, they come grovelling and treating me like someone important. When news that I owned a double storey house came to light, invitations started pouring in for my hubby, baby and me to attend dinners, suppers, breakfasts and all the other outings we had been left out of. The pariah now is the brother in Shah Alam who has been jobless since 2004.

This family I married into is truly a idiotic and materialistic one. When you are in the money, they welcome you, when you are down and out they ostracise you. Thank goodness my better half does not behave like them! He's more like his father and less like his money minded mother. I am glad that I do not live anywhere near them and I have done my part as a dutiful daughter and sister in law so I don't give a damn as to what the heck they say about me.

Anyway to all celebrating, Kong Hei Fatt Choy!