Lupa

I knew it had to happen sooner or later; I just didn't anticipate it happening sooner than expected. Had it happened to the 'old' me, that is to say the kepala angin (temperamental) 'me' of 20 years ago, Pak Abu would probably have to endure biting morsels for the next 12 months.

But two decades on and I am one surprisingly mellowed 'auntie' on the treshhold of her 55th birthday, who has come to terms with her greying hair and her compact middle, and who no longer worries about missing birthdays and anniversaries. At this age, if one MUST worry, it should be about missing teeth!

June 23 has always been an important date in our personal calendar, it being our wedding anniversary. So you can judge the state of our marriage from what had happened this year - we both forgot! This year, Tuesday June 23rd sailed past without as much as a squeak.

Pak Abu only realised it the day after. As for me, I well and truly forgot until he mentioned it during lunch the following day. That too after wildly guessing why we were where we were. So much for romance!

That Wednesday, Pak Abu came home around noon and asked me to get ready for lunch. Nothing unusual in that; he always came home lunchtime and we would go makan at any of the shops around Taman Tun.

I put on a nondescript, everyday blouse, clipped a plain tudung on my head and off we went.. presumably to 'Restoran Puteri' or 'Salero Nogori' or 'Penang Village' just round the corner. Instead he drove to Medan Damansara and parked in front of my favourite Italian restaurant, La Risata.

La Risata? At noon? That's waayyy too much, I thought. Without a doubt, La Risata serves good fare; its seafood soup is a must every time. We usually have Italian food for dinner, after which I would end up like a beached whale.

It was while waiting for the food to arrive that Pak Abu stated the obvious. I couldn't help but laugh (it was a nervous titter, actually) at my creeping nyanyokness. Pak Abu said he remembered the anniversary the day before and had planned to get a card and stuffs.

Naturally he forgot on the day itself, and recalled it again the day after, by which time the card (and whatever that was to come with it) was history.

We laughed as we reminisced the first anniversary; how he went the distance - an expensive dinner for two, flowers, presents, a bottle of wine too - and a spot of music, in a hotel somewhere.

Anyway, it was a good noon outing. Happy anniversary Pak Abu and please don't lupa next year, ok? And I will try not to forget as well....

PS: Confucius says "Prolonged forgetfulness of one's wedding anniversary can cause cold spots in the house due to the presence of a restless brooding entity called wife."

Aaah, such wise words from good old Confucius (I think he must have forgotten an anniversary or two himself to have come up with this gem.. hehehe....)