Two Birds with One Stone

My stupidity working out like a maniac over my microminivacation last week finally got to my falling apart body. As I bent down to pick some mails shoved halfway under my office door, I felt a sharp pain stabbed between my shoulder blades. For days I've felt the knots here and there on my back, the sign I would've not ignored.

The pain systematically spread on my back.  I could've taken a pain reliever, but I never took any pain reliever before except when I had my root canal fixed last year. Last month I called Chi Wellness to ask about their service. I picked up the phone and dialed their number praying they had available slot. I told Mr Miles Chong Cheng, the Director of the center I was interested to get a tuina massage. When he asked me If I were available for 5 pm appointment, I almost jumped out of my chair.

By 4:30 pm I was at their door. Lulu, a cheerful and friendly masseuse introduced herself and handed me a clipboard and consenting /personal info forms. When she learned that I experienced a low blood pressure in the past she asked me what time I had my lunch.  She suggested me to have some light snack, some crackers or a banana. I walked up to a corner store near Brigham Women Hospital train stop. The Ethiopian kid at the cash register asked me if I were an Indian when he saw my bangles.

"I'm Malaysian."

I heard a gasp behind me. I turned around and came face to face with a beautiful smiling face, grinning ear to ear.

"You're Malaysian?" She put her right hand over her chest.

"Are you? Which part of Malaysia?"

"Yes!!! I was born in Penang."

It was my turn. "Get out of here!!! Me too!!! But my family moved to Taiping in 1968." We laughed and talked at the same time. So many things to talk about.

"Oh my god. I could not believe it. My family moved to Taiping when I was younger ." She put  her hands on both of her cheeks.

"Ladies, ladies, I did a wonderful job today, right? I bring two Malaysians together." We forgot all about the kid at the cash register.

We thanked him. Both of us had to be somewhere else. I dug out my pocket book and handed her my card and she did hers.

Before we parted she held my hands and said, "Please keep in touch, okay? Selamat jalan."

"I will. Jumpa lagi." I walked back to Chi Wellness Center with bright smile as bright as a full moon.

When I got home I added Cheng Ai Kwok's name in my address book.

Comments

[anasalwa]

Kri,
I guess a quiet person is always quiet and reserved and the cordial and friendly no matter where they are.

visithra,
the mom was probably upset because she thought she and her kid were the only Malaysians in the area until she met you. :))

[visithra]

humm fascinating - one posts tells off a fellow msian who ignores n the other the aestatic one ;) i would have been aestatic but been ignored before - was in india and met this malay kid n her mom at a local store - excitedly started talking in malay to the kid who was as excited - but her mom wouldnt even glance at me -

[kri]

That's very nice, Sexylegs. The bangles are nice too. It's sad that we're not THAT cordial when we live among ourselves here in the old tanah air.

[anasalwa]

Ninetta,
I love them. I have another two sets (red and green that match my sweater. I remember many years ago back in Taiping when I wore the bangles (the set my friend Manggalam gave me) to the wedding, a MakCik asked me, "Hang nak jadi Hindu ka?"
I guess you have to wait until the little one learns to appreciate Mommy's accessories :))

Pak Idrus,
Probably not :)) Agree with you, the unexpected colors and spices up our lives.

Dizery,
Yes, they are some Malaysians about.
Next time when I see you at the bus stop, I'll drag you to lunch.

pu1pu3,
Yes, it is nice, but if they didn't want to be bohtered, just leave them alone.

[pu1pu3]

Its gr8 to meet a nice fellow malaysian kan?
I felt the same way when I was abroad.
But most that I meet berlagak and don't want to be associated with our roots.
Hold on to this friend!!!