Angelic

A snippet of the Tan family Christmas Tree.

Although I am home for Christmas this year, I somehow feel detached. The last Christmas seemed merrier. The last Birthday was happier. And in spite of all that has happened, I still think that I am happier away from home; that my happiest memorie are of times spent far away from our little island.
The build up to this christmas was spent rushing to town getting the obligatory christmas presents, being swallowed and churned out by stores and malls but not before being sucked dry of liquidity. All along Orchard Road, the bodies of shopping centres secrete through their porous shop windows the scent of illusionary happiness and promised merry times. If only happiness was that cheap. Thousands scurry forth like worker ants, in search of the prefect gift to please that perfect someone, hoping that that perfect someone is doing the same and that you are that perfect someone's perfect recepient. To love in anticipation of being loved. To give generously in the hopes of receiving well. And as the masses surge forth in the spirit of buying to present generously, courtesy and decency are shoved aside or shoved along as the masses shove towards their primal objective.
Please don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to bah-humbug-bugger-off christmas. In fact, on the eve of Christmas, I am hoping that tomorrow will be a ball. Yes, under all this griping and moaning I am still a human being. Albeit one that seems to relish in negativity. Of course those part philosopher, part fortune cookie types out there would say that one should always look on the bright side of life. But it is always the other side that makes life miserable, so shouldn't one pay some attention to it every once in a while?
Anyway, back to the opening paragraph, I somehow think that distance makes a big difference in terms of how we perceive things. I know that this theory of mine is somehow linked to the "forbbiden fruit tastes best" theory but due to a lack of intelletual willpower at the moment, I shall not delve into it. Like I've said before, things seem so much better when they're not part of your close surroundings. And maybe that is why I missed my family more last year. And that is why I truly understood the meaning of christmas last year. How easily one forgets the most important lessons of life.
Oh yes, Merry Christmas everyone.