With Changes Come Responsibilities

Sunrise at Gurney Drive

This is one of those days that I want to leave all my cares behind, sit back and savour the serenity of the moment but there are so many things swirling in my mind right now. Eighteen days into 2008 and I suddenly realise that many things have changed with more to come.

Being married comes with responsibilities not only to the wife but also her family. For the past five years, Wuan was all the family I had. Now that our marital status has changed, her family has become mine too. What is required of the son-in-law? What are my duties, especially during auspicious occasions such as the Chinese New Year?

The one thing I do know is that I have to give away ang paus this year. That is the tradition. I collected my last Chinese New Year ang pau last year. My years of merrily accumulating a small fortune have come to an end. Now is payback time. There are already hints of what is expected from me. I hope the new notes that I have changed are enough.

These are changes that need time for me to get used to. They mark another few milestones in my passage through life. I am learning. I thought my Chinese New Years will never be the same again since Mum died. The last four years were different. Now that I have a family of my own, I wonder how it will be like.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

6 thoughts on “With Changes Come Responsibilities”

  1. well welcome to my world that is all about giving out to greedy little angpow gremlins… ahhhahh… but THIS year is payback time for their parents….Muahahah…. actually no …. more like damage control … since they have larger brood of gremlins… i only have one monster… so not so bad… But it will be INTERESTING for you, UNCLE PETER !!!!! Gong Xi Gong Xi… Ang pow gia lai…makes you wanna and shout “Money don’t grow on trees you know”… but it is always fun where you get to ask those singles…… “wei is this the last year that you are going to take ang pows?” or “This year last year liao ha ?”

    Peter:
    Time for you to make more monsters…

  2. aww… here’s a greeting in advance: happy chinese new year peter! and don’t forget my angpau~! hehe.

    Peter:
    I’ll keep one for you but valid until Chap Goh Meh nia. 🙂

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