Before & After P

Okay, MT has spoken. I have been forewarned. With LT 's continued silence, I should take that as the lull before the storm. Or should that be "earthquake"? Whatever, my current physical condition cannot take another beating so why risk life and limbs? Let us move to safer territory..............

Generally, I divide my life into two different periods, before P and after P, i.e. before June 2008 and after. Actually, looking back, my P probably started at least two years before diagnosis in 2008 as some of the symptoms already started to show then.

Anyway, my personality after P was distinctively different from that before. Before P, I was definitely more chatty, more articulate and have a tendency to shoot my mouth off. Before P, I walked with a swagger at times, after P, I walked with a limp occasionally! But my sense of humor has always been there, P or no P.

So let me share some of the outrageously funny things that took place before P (and these are the stories I told, with the protagonists present, during a dinner marking the end of a meeting in Beijing sometime in 2005).
I was also on a high because I had received a Special Achievement Award that very day.

Story #1
CTH, the "C" representing his rank at that time, was in town for the very first time. He was, and still is, working for the military of a certain country which remains one of the company's clients. I was taking him out to lunch at Lei Gardens, Chijmes. I asked TMH if he could join me in hosting the lunch and he agreed. So after the usual introductions,  we ordered our food. Strangely,  salmon sashimi was on the menu that day as an appetizer, supposedly meant to make Chinese cuisine more exotic. The sashimi arrived shortly and TMH, the perfect host, took it upon himself to explain the origin of sashimi and how it was consumed. "This is sashimi, the Japanese love this. It is raw fish. I hope you like it, CH. You mix some of this green thing here called wasabi with soy sauce and then dip the sashimi in it before eating. But be careful, the wasabi is very spicy."

I suddenly noticed that CH was a bit uncomfortable and squirming a little to TMH's introduction to sashimi. I also noticed that he was just a little too familiar with chopsticks and the manner in which he mixed the wasabi and soy sauce was a bit of a tell-tale sign that he was not new to this. It dawned on me, given his half Asian-looks, his very Caucasian name notwithstanding, that he might be half....no, no, that cannot be. Because if he were to be, then this is going to be a riot. I couldn't resist the temptation and just as CH was going to put the first piece of sashimi into his mouth, I asked "CH, you have a bit of Asian look in you. Do you mind if I ask you about your parentage?" I am glad I asked before he  put that piece of fish into his mouth because he would have choked otherwise, for he replied, with a very straight face "I am half-Japanese" and then quickly ate his sashimi. I didn't know how to react and did not dare to look at TMH fearing that I would burst out. The only thing I could do for TMH was to change subject so I said "So you live in Honolulu. You love it there?" Without waiting for his answer, I took two pieces of salmon at one go, dipped them in wasabi sauce and stuffed them into my mouth. And that was the first and last time I had any Japanese food with CH in my over 10 years of business relationship with him. Not even when I visited him in Okinawa..............

Story #2

PK has headed the Thai business since 1999, one year after acquisition. I am very fond of him and I am sure that feeling is reciprocated because, upon hearing of my retirement, he said some very nice things about me  ended his email with "You will always be my Big Brother KK". I will always cherish this.

During his first few months, I had the privilege of showing him the ropes and introducing him to our clients. One of them happened to be a very large insurance company I was very familiar with. So I went with PK and we were ushered into a very large boardroom. I have been in that very room for the umpteenth time over the years. I was chatting with PK in the far end of the room when suddenly the door opened and in walked a very distinguished-looking gentleman, probably in his late sixties. Long sleeves with a tie, and cuff-links to boot. As I alluded to, I have known this client for a very long time so I was very familiar with this gentleman. As he walked in, I smiled at him, nodding my head by way of acknowledging his presence and turned back to continue my conversation with PK. But he was not with me anymore! He was on his way to introduce himself to the gentleman. I tried to stop him,  almost shouting desperately, but he ignored me and my short legs didn't allow me to catch up with his long strides. And there he was, giving his name card to the gentleman, shaking hands and probably explaining the purpose of his visit when the door opened again and this time, there were at least ten other distinguished looking gentlemen all of whom I have met many times before. The first gentleman, however, decided to leave the room. I made the introductions and as soon as we were all seated, the door opened again and  the elderly, distinguished-looking gentleman returned, this time bearing a large tray of coffee and tea.......................

I was trying so hard not to laugh, especially when PK's drink was being served to him, half expecting that same gentleman to return his name card. And when relating this story in Beijing, with PK protesting and trying to pull me away from my story-telling session, I said "So now you guys know that it is important when doing business with the Thais that you start by introducing yourself to the coffee-boy, ah, sorry, I mean coffee-gentleman!

Story #3

I have to make a side-track here because I prefer to tell a different story - one that involves our precious LT.  May the earthquake erupts............

One afternoon, during office hours, some of us were suddenly invited to a Charity Ball at the Fullerton which was taking place that very evening! Led by PRH, our contingent included TMH, PB, OL, MT, LT and myself. Forgotten who were the other three. The Ball was hosted by the top dignitary in the country and we could see quite a few other dignitaries, all VVIPs, at his table, including his own predecessor. Because it was a formal event, we had to go back home to change and  I recall that LT was all decked out in her finest jewelries, including a diamond bracelet. I remembered the bracelet because I had the audacity to tease her "So you bought that from Swarovski?" earning a stern rebuke from her eyes! Yes, the glare that stares!

Anyway, it was a fun event and when it was over, I walked with LT (I had promised her a ride home) towards the main entrance as I was valet-parked. But the whole place was really congested and the people up front was taking their own sweet time. And as we were just about to reach the main entrance, LT suddenly commented, quite loudly (which meant the entire crowd could hear) "What are they waiting for! So slow!"

And that was when someone from the queue in front of us turned back and stared, no, sort of glared at her. That someone was a VVVIP. A dignitary amongst dignitaries. He was standing next to the host of the Ball, his successor. That was when we both realized that somehow we had found ourselves on the red carpet. We both scrambled over the now forbidding looking divider back to where the "commoners" should be, and for once, LT had nothing to say.

Two weeks later, unfortunately, that very VVVIP who had stared at LT, no, almost sort of glared at her, had passed away. There was a State Funeral and LT wanted me to go with her to pay our last respects but I refused, saying "They might recognize us. At the very least they are sure to recognize you!"

And since then,  I have not stared, much less glared, at LT.