FAB ballet classes

Papa didn't get to see you for the new year, but Mama had a small change of heart so Papa saw you for two days running (yesterday and the day before). Pigs can fly...

We had lunch with Mama and Justin on Friday, this must be the first time we sat down together in over two years. You were so happy you just kept smiling and laughing with me. That is until Mama told you to "stop being rude to Papa". Papa saw you freeze up and thought you wanted to cry. Guess plain horsing around is "rude" in Mama's eyes. So Papa finally understands why you say Mama doesn't play with you.

Papa ordered the carparchio salmon and then Mama wouldn't eat the sushi ("I don't eat raw food syndrome") , but no matter because in a blink of the eye, you had finished all the slices on the plate. We pottered around , just you and me.

So on Friday evening, we went to the movies for a kiddie show-Percy Something and the Lightning Thief... you were pretty stressed out and wanted to leave half-way, but then it turned out you were afraid of Mama scolding you if you came home late. So either the movie was really bad or you were too stressed out, because you fell asleep at the end.

Papa bought you a little fur jacket so you wouldn't complain of being cold in the cinema halls anymore. "Comfy!!"

Then on Saturday Papa took you to the ballet school , and dumped you into the class for a(nother) preview while Papa filled out the forms and etc. When Papa got into the studio to see you, you were sitting quietly, watching the other girls in their tutus. Reds eyes, you were hugging yourself. Papa asked you if you were unhappy. You shake your head.

"Are you happy?". Nod. Hmm , looks like you want to cry from happiness......

"Lets go, mergirl. You are joining this class ok? You start in March. Papa kept his promise to put you in a dancing class with no boys." [You said you would hide under the table if a boy disturbs you...]




You insisted you wanted an iced lemon tea. Upon drinking it you promptly fell asleep....

Papa thinks!!

Papa saw you today, you looked just a bit taller but just as skinny. So Papa picked you up at BSC, and took you to the “playground” upstairs for you to bounce around. Then Papa decided to take you to Damas so as to buy some clothes for you.

Surprise!! We bumped into the wife of one of Papa's friends just a we were going in. So we had lunch with her at some japanese restaurant. Papa just sat back and watched as you regaled her with stories of you seeing lions in the jungle at night. Ah then , you did mention it was only a dream in the end, so I guess that lets you off the hook. And the food was to your liking, although you made no pronouncement of “yummy” this time.

Then it was off to looking for clothes. Not too chinese-new-year-ish, so no reds , no pinks even. One colourful indian-blue dress, one japanese label off-white gown, one cute white Tee with the words “LOVE” emblazoned on the front, with a crucifix cut-off at the back and one spotted hippy-like long-sleeve dress that you called “comfy” the moment you stepped out of the changing-room.

Then we had tea, when Papa decided that perhaps you should be off to Mama before she made noise. Hmm, as soon as Papa told you that, you decided to see the toys at TOYS-R-US. And you wouldn't leave. Out from the toyshop, you wanted to see the pet-shop. And then you didn't really want to leave either.

P: “What's wrong girl?? We got to go now, why do you look so unhappy??

S: “I don't want Daddy to leave me...I don't want to sit in the house...”

Doink!! So all the times you kept asking Papa to take you places when it was time to go back to Mama, you were just trying to squeeze more time together .

Well Papa drives you back to BSC, and you fell asleep in the car and Papa has to carry you to the cafe, where you sleep on Papa while Papa tries not to move around too much on the sofa. Your eyes are closed until Mama came to fetch you, then Papa left you for a while with Mama as Papa had to pick up your bag from the car. When Papa came back, you looked so pale and sad and beaten down, there were tears about to well up in your eyes. (Sounds like a Drama Minggu Ini.)

Papa hugged you.

P: “Don't cry ok...Papa will see you next week ok??”

S: “...Papaaaa...”

P: “Papa will give you a big hug... you mustn't cry...” [Tears welling up]

Oh dear.

Less than one hour later, Papa gets a call.

M: “You lost her hair-band! That lady-friend of yours took it off. Hairbands are very expensive, I want it back...”

Huh?? The hairband was on you even when you were sleeping on Papa. Papa knows because he couldn't run his fingers in your hair then. How did Mama know? Has Mama got sixth sense, or did she grill you??

American V: A hundred Highways

Wooo. Not sure how to approach this album. At the end of his (pretty chequered) life, Mr. Cash goes and records some songs. Papa got hold of American V and what a treat.

The gravel almost gone in his voice, Johnny Cash sings or rather drones out dirges. He doesn't seem to sing so much as to drag out the lyrics to the songs in a monologue. And the songs- Help Me, God's gonna cut you down, I'm free from the chain gang now,etc....Looks like here's a man waiting at his last stop in life, killing time by doing the only thing he can -by singing.

On first listening, you would think it was just the vanity of a dying man. And a record company pandering [can't hurt, there's got to be some $$ there still] . But then the voice... It will pull you in, if you let it. And if you listen beyond the tremor in the voice and the weariness behind the man, then you will find a quiet dignity of a beautiful and honest album. A kind of tacky mixed with a whole lot of tasteful.

And then you hear the need of a great singer and legend to sing one last time. He just wants to sing "Well our good times are now gone, and I'm bound for moving on, I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.."- Four strong winds. The strong, strong voice is gone, it breaks and shatters everywhere.

"Got on my dead man's suit and my smilin' skull ring
My lucky graveyard boots and a song to sing
I got a song to sing, it keeps me out of the cold
And I'll meet you further on up the road.

Further on up the road
Further on up the road
Where the way is dark and the night is cold
One sunny mornin' we'll rise I know
And I'll meet you further on up the road.

-Further on up the road.

Track for track, probably the most brutally honest and gentle album that I have heard, exceeding Lucinda Willian's pean in Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

J. Cash, free from the chain-gang now.

(PS-Or maybe not really...JCash is still working for the record company, from beyond the grave. I kid you not- American VI : Ain't No Grave was released on what would have been his 78th birthday. There must be a sub-species of irony at work here. )

(PPS- but then the last song he ever wrote is 1 Corinthians 15:55 . That will probably close out American VI. Papa can't wait to get it. For non-Christians and more for ease of reference, that verse goes:
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?")
Last words from beyond the grave. 'Nuff said.