Sundate @ Malacca Club with the kids and grandkids.

 There used to be a saying that went: Seasons change; people change.

In my life thus far, nothing seems to encapsulate what happens to me and my loved ones better than that summary.

No more than 10 years ago this day (2004); I was just a 37 year old father of a young and upcoming brood of kids with wife and debts from mortgage to car loans,expenditure up to the eye balls on top of coping with familial duties(mother in tow with two sisters); and nothing more than a dream and a wish to be comfortable and successful. (In that order!)

Life was just beginning to be comfortable to me and my family at that point after decades of sorrow and low financial resources. 

Stability and self esteem was beginning to set in and with it the opportunity to dream and plan for prosperity in the future.

The memory of previous years and years of sadness due to our low social position, our lack of financial strength and urban poor status and connections slowly ebbed away as a fleeting memory of pain eventual ebbs away; time moved on and as the kids grew up and opportunity after new opportunity presented itself to both Michelle and I, we used the privileges and opportunity to better ourselves and the kids & to further strengthen our family life.

It would appear that every decade or so sees me changing my lifestyle (luckily for the better) and people who knew me previously are mostly taken aback by the difference within the decade and unfortunately,some just cannot come to terms with that fact.

I've given up trying to explain the hows and why fore's or even apologize as I was wont to do once upon a time. 

I forget how many times I've repeated myself telling this story……that my wife and I were busy worrying about pampers and diapers at an age many of our age were only worried where the latest disco was or which locations had the most fun for them to indulge in. For us at that time, those too were pleasant and enjoyable moments, but that was not the happiness we searched for. Lots of people confuse pleasure with happiness. Parties, bar hopping, drinking sprees and orgies are relative pleasures, but they are not happiness...

These days I just carry on with my own life as their baggage and burden of explanation that I had to go through, to assuage them, to get these people to be nice to us, just got too much for me. 

Time and life as it were (for us) has also changed ....many times since those days of old.  Luckily travel, networking and new skill sets have made both mine and my wife's life so much easier these days. 

The fact that technology aids us in all these endeavors goes without saying as mobility and tech savviness have made us more up to date and aware of opportunities out there.  And things do move fast these days. Often times much faster that I'd like it to. 

But happily, in the big scheme of things everything has fallen in place properly.  Fast forward to the present and I watch with happiness and joy in my heart as my kids’ blossom in front our eyes, and make us walk proud with their accomplishments.
Things may change in the future but for now all is well and good.

Coming to the present, this particular Sunday,the family had intended to get together for some R&R and some away time from the rat race and we decided to meet at the Club for that.

Lounging in the hot sultry afternoon within the cool ambiance of the Rotunda in the Malacca club, we chatted and kept up with the events that are important to us these days.....the kids taking the time to update us with their plans and schedules for the immediate future whilst the grand kids ran and screamed in the newly minted playground on the club grounds.

Utheya informed us that Nicole is coping well in her new kindergarten atmosphere, and that she (as every other kid) looks forward to the play time there but cries a little once she realizes the mother had gone home the moment she turned her back!

Naylyn on the other hand is getting slightly pudgier these days but she is doing everything she sees her sister is doing, which means that she'll burn off that baby fat very soon as well!

 As for Shoryn, I told him she plans to be joining up with RHB Bank very soon, as once her results are out I've asked her to terminate her current employment in the Jusco Supermarket. (where she is now selling jewelry for  one of the retail shops) which has very long hours.

Chandra has also been offered a position there (@RHB) but he's not too keen preferring instead to make his own way and find employment on his own or maybe to set up a business later.

Truth be told, being able to partake in such recreational diversions together with the kids and family members is a privilege and pleasure that gives me the strength and assurance that indeed life has so much more to offer us as a family, as we watch with joy and happiness the camaraderie and frolic as every member of the family get together and enjoy the sports and recreational facilities here this fine morning.

Philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living  a good life and flourishing. I cannot but agree.

The added bonus was that our arrival was without fanfare and the lack of other kids and their parents in the pool and playground gave us in that early hour, on this fine Sunday; a sense of freedom to utilize the sports and swimming areas to our hearts content without needing to queue or stand in line for any of the facilities, with all the available staffs paying attention to all our needs and wants!

Later that same evening, we all adjourned to celebrate Utheya's 24th Birthday in the Portuguese settlement with his mother in law's family members all in tow!

                                                   
                                   Days of remembrance and fun indeed!