Lady Clutter Bug

I have a bright yellow microwave and a periwinkle blue electric jug. My feature wall in the lounge is punch-it purple and my steak knives are playful colours of the rainbow.

It is safe to say I am colour crazy. But I only like to wear black and I like my towels to be white.

Many lazy mornings in the past, Richard would take me for a drive to nearest estates where beautiful homes are displayed. I love  seeing all these clean and organized dwellings  of monochromatic scheme. I would luv to just have an all cream, off-white lounge with beige decors. I used to long for them. But not so much anymore.

I have come to accept that colourful things makes my life brighter and in a way results to a happier me. Like Kris Aquino “Ayoko ng minimalist.” Even though I would like to live in an uncluttered 4 sided spacious Zen home, I just can’t.

I am so much of a sentimentalist to be in an uncluttered existence.
Everything in my house, though nicely in their own little nooks, are breeding.  I would devour architectural digests and home magazines for advices and have mellowed over the years. But really, do I like to live in an empty, uncluttered space? Like deeply, deeply like? I don't think so.



Original Angie Crayola Painting

How do you part with a $2 Shop Eagle figurine that you ‘won’ in Institute Class because you wrote the best ‘parable’? How do you pack away tiny porcelain Snow White and the 7 dwarfs that your husband of 1 year gifted you when Disney Store was still in Melbourne? And that special CRAYOLA PAINTING by my little sissy Angeline that is more precious in my sight than the Monalisa in Louvre? That resin sunflower and crow from Utah and Tinkerbell from Disneyland?  How about the 3 Halloween pumpkins from tiny European city of Graz? How do you get rid of them?

I don’t. I keep them because they have stories to tell. Rich in his patient, unselfish self - got me  glass cabinets for them. To contain all my doodads in.

I would like to share with you a special story behind a tiny souvenir.

I have a wind up musical instrument that plays a French ditty. It was given to me by Clairebear  from work. Sweet, lovely, curvaceous Clebe. Or as 3 year old Benny would say: My Clairebear!

Claire and I met over 8 years ago. Our work environment is unique, not only do we share a building and long hours, we have become family. Claire and I both love our food. We would take the bus to the West and feast on Vietnamese food. A waitress remarked after we just placed our order: Just you two? Claire said: but we’re hungry! I laughed out then and still do so now when I think of that night. That was also the night when I rang Rich to harvest my virtual pumpkins asap because I won't be home on time. I was not embarrassed to let Claire see that side of me. The crazy virtual farmer :-)

Claire and I also have this way of entertaining ourselves when the going gets tough at work. We would sing nursery rhymes ala Gregorian Chants or do some contemporary dancing. I’d belt out while she does the moves. We would laugh  and the stress would leave our bodies. It was always hilarious, I mean for both of us. Not for some children though. A couple (I am talking to you Owie), did not appreciate our version of Old Mcdonald with matching underworld tones and a bit of QUEEN rock. (FYI, we do not do this during the course of the day but always towards the end when we are waiting for children to be picked up. We do not have lots of audience then, hence the brazen acts. We, I can assure you : are professionals J)

 

In our friendship, this is my favourite part. I love coming up with a song for each new guy that Claire meets. I would unlock some buried information from my inner brain of a traditional song from whence that boy came. “Waltzing Matilda” for an Aussie with dreadlocks,  or just  “A Whole New World” because it covers all nationalities. I have belted a few songs and Claire made me promise to sing at her wedding. I would just laugh.

Then one day, she met a nice young French man. Oui! I had a song ready in 3 seconds flat. Au clair de la lune.  A song that my mother introduced to me when I was 10. It was in a cassette tape selection of World Songs. But because it was sang by talented Filipino artists called “Various” (insert snicker) the accent was just not right. I sang it confidently to Claire regardless of my bad French pronunciation. I was glad I remembered that song. I do love that song. We printed the words and sang it together. We always had a blast.

Then something happened. As a married woman of over 10 years, I noticed the different sparkle in Claire’s eyes. Our Clairebear is hit by le amour! That was when I stopped the singing, hoping she will forget of that request to sing on her special day. I do not know what the future holds but one thing I am sure, I am not singing at anybody's wedding.

Through the passing days, I can feel the sincerity of this relationship.  After Au Claire de la lune, I never sang any more songs to Claire. Her search was over, she found the tune that will make her happy.

Last Christmas she travelled to France to meet the family of her man. It was on that trip that she found that tiny wind up musical box. It plays Au Claire de la lune. She told him she has to get it for me.

The first time I held it, I was so touched I nearly cried. 


Au Claire de la lune

That  tiny box sits proudly in that glass cabinet together with my other treasures. Each one is unique and each one brings back memories. This musical box is titled: Friendship.

I will never tire retelling stories of them because they are a much loved part of me. When I am old and grey I will look back at all these with fondness and gratitude that I have experienced my life with them. I may not have gold and silver to bequeath my love ones but I have lived a life where I was loved by many. My glass cabinet attests to that.

***

Claire sent this to me thru Facebook Message:  26 August 2011:
Oh my god!!! I feel so touched Aileena to b a part of your beautiful blog, your thoughts...your life :) i read it on the train and I felt so touched I wanted to tell the person nxt to me on the train. I didn't though!!! I will go home and share it with nans and write on your wall. Thankyou Aileena for making me feel special and for being an amazing friend at lady hunt. I'm so lucky :) I love it!! Hahah :) it's so funny too :) xxx