I kept heading to the window and taking deep breaths while waiting for the PC to boot up just now. Gosh, the night air is like almost perfect. Cool, light and slightly breezy. Reminds me of really early morning air, except for the absence of the frangrance of morning dew. You don't find air like this all the time in Singapore. Not even by the sea sometimes. It's just so refreshing and I love it. Doesn't smell like rain though. I know the smell of rain very well because I just love that smell. Nope, not going to rain tonight.
Had an entertaining dinner just now with Mr H and Mr L and the topic somehow went into girls and I started rambling about how I think that at the end of the day, I think most guys would like somebody who can fulfill their most basic of needs. YES, most of the Singapore men I know say that at the end of the day, all they want is somebody to sayang them, comfort them and take care of their most basic of human needs. After all, if you take away the money, the mobile phone, the plasma television, the computer, the Prada bags (Louis Vuitton for follow-the-herd types and Hermes for the genuinely well to do types), the Ferragamo shoes and all the modern comforts of the human female species of today - I think most women will not know what to do with their lives. And most probably they will not know what to do with us men.
I was mentioning to these two guys of the dilemma and predicament of one of our colleagues, who is married with two children. His wife is an Australian born Chinese who grew up with the Western culture and he told me one day he had a fall or something and hurt his arm and his wife just asked him "Are you ok? I'm sure it'll be fine." and that's it. He did not mention the extent of his injuries but it struck me when he said "Sometimes I really wish she would like, you know, nurse my wound or at least rub the sore part, apply some ointment on it and say something comforting to make me feel better - you know, simple things like that."
You know, I just thought that maybe I'll suffer the same exact dilemma. Most men are simple and have simple needs lah, I think. To leave the office and all its trappings of money, politics, back-stabbing, ass-kissing and the ocassional seduction of the office intern or nymphomaniac and go home to a warm meal, shoulder massage and soothing voice to calm the nerves after a hectic day.
Yah, I realise after all these years - the simplest things in life are indeed the best. You know, these two days I have been really searching all over the net about one subject - M.A.S.K. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.A.S.K.)
As I searched the web pages, I was slowly taken back to the time when I was 10 years old. It is wonderful, I tell you - it almost feels like taking a time machine back or gaining your memory back after suffering from a bout of amnesia. The feeling is just wonderful. As I read up on the fans all over the world and their fanaticism with the cartoon series and the vintage toys, I realise that it's not about the toys or the cartoon after all. It is really about reliving your childhood memories - times when things were really simple and you laugh just because you are with your friends or cousin and you enjoy yourselves just by simply fantasizing that you are Matt Tracker blowing Miles Mayhem to smithereens with high energy laser beams from your Thunderhawk. As I scrolled through endless pages of M.A.S.K. websites, each page revealed some of my favourite toys which I have completely forgotten - the colours and the forms of all the toys that I have played with, the names of the each character - it really is a magical feeling.
So, trust me. Try not to over-complicate your lives. Think of the most basic of human needs and you'll find that your friends will appreciate your sincerity. Sometimes you really don't have to try to impress your friends and loved ones with big words, immensely intellectual topics, articles from The Business Times or The Wall Street Journal.
Make them smile. Make them laugh. Make them blush with your praises often. I know for a fact that even if they think you are just being over flattering - they will still like the feeling.
So, flatter anyway.
People will always remember how you made them feel good.
And that's a rather simple thing to do, I think.
=)
