Just had a weird moment: I was having lunch with Dad at the dinner table, and the TV was on as it usually is. They were showing some Chinese action movie, which my dad likes. Then it was a commercial break, he turned the channel, and on came
The Wild Thornberrys. I've never watched an episode in my life, and I'm sure a 62 year old man wouldn't have much reason to watch it either. In a nutshell, it's about a husband-and-wife team of nature documentary makers, who take their children with them across the globe - and in this particular episode, they were in Antarctica...filming penguins.
Obviously, I was transfixed at the sight, as I usually am whenever I see penguins onscreen. A few years ago at Pondok Indah Mall, there used to be a Philips TV on display at the electronics store, and they used footage of penguins to show off the flat screen. I'd pass by just to watch. And a few weeks ago, I went to the bookstore and they had some other penguin-related thing showing. I was only in the bookstore looking for something, and when I couldn't find it, I was going to leave straight away. But the penguin show just sucked me in. Hard to explain what hold penguins have over me.
So it wasn't out of the ordinary for me to have a reaction that was a combination of zombie-like staring with "Aww, isn't that cute!" gushing. But my Dad? I caught a glimpse of him paying attention and letting out a little smile. Maybe he finally got a better idea of my obsession. No words were exchanged, but that one little smirk said volumes.
Later on I had a wedding to attend, and after that, I had one of the most bizarre conversations ever imaginable. A confidentiality agreement prevents me from saying too much about it, but I will say this: it pays to give as much information as possible, so as to avoid embarrassment...
Went with Dad and Mum 2 to a wedding. Nothing remarkable in itself, but in this particular case, it was like a reunion for ex-London old folks, considering that the bride and groom were both London kids back when they were wee. But get this: the two only got back in touch recently (about six months ago, if my sources are correct), without any prior post-London meetings whatsoever. Nice little romantic twist there, more unpredictable than the concept of them being together for all those years.
For me, personally, I thought it might be an opportunity to get in touch with my childhood roots, figuring there might be some people from my age group. But apart from Sheila and Atut (the bride's sister, whom remembered me but unfortunately the opposite didn't apply), my evening was mostly full of my Dad's friends asking if I remembered them, followed by me grinning nervously. Hey, it's not like anyone told my younger self, "Remember these people, who knows if you may run into them again in eighteen years..."
