Where to begin? I am so perfectly happy now, the word ‘happy’ cannot even begin to describe my current state.

A year is truly too much, too long, to be away from one’s dearest, most loved ones. I mean email and phone calls are fine and help sustain my sanity but you never really feel the love and the support of your family till you’re back home.

Home.

My flight was tiresome for I hate night journeys. The previous evening I had a small dinner with some friends that turned out to be a full-blown farewell. But more on that later. (I promise I will write; Maria’s gonna kill me otherwise.)

Naturally the food was horrid, though the movies were interesting. Besides a repeat of Spiderman, they also played British indies like Bend It Over Beckham (which really is less about the football star and more about an Punjabi girl in England) and Jimmy Grimble (magic football boots, and yes, it was good despite that).

But I forgot about all that once I landed. Mom and Dad were waiting for me as I walked out of the Arrivals lobby. I nearly cried when I saw her my dad. He had lost so much weight and his hair really greyed a lot. My heart broke.

My mom too lost weight but not so much. She looked rather healthy actually. She quickly reassured me Dad lost the weight with the heavy exercise he’s being doing lately; he’s been giving dancing lessons at the nearby community centre. He was only learning a year back. Goodness.

Mom’s been learning dancesteps from him and the thought of these two sixty year olds prancing around was both hilarious and highly comforting.

A two-drive from the airport in Kuala Lumpur later, and I was back in Malacca. I dropped by my sister’s shop and there she was with her husband and her kids. My nephew and nieces each gave me a welcome gift: Chanel gave me a pair of shades, Shanice, the smallest, gave me a Malaysian flag she drew herself, and their big brother gave me a Westlife album. The last one really made me laugh out loud. A boyband, really.

We went for dinner near the beach and had seafood. Just walking along the shore talking with the kids…

I find it really difficult to fill the space here with details. They’re really not important when you’re smiling all the time.

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Copyright © 2002 Kenny Mah Ying Fye.