Marriage. A union of Joy. A celebration of two coming together to be as one.
But at what cost?
How does one put a price tag on a celebration? In dollars and cents? In verbal well-wishes? With food and wine? With tears that stream down one's face?
It is a bit discouraging when friends are happy for us, but the reaction from family is a hundred and eighty degrees away. Not that they object, in fact my mum said it's good that I have found the partner to settle down with and says go and get married. But the fact that that is all she said is a bit frustrating. No offer of paying for the church wedding lunch, or saying she'll chip in for this. Just an offer of paying for five tables, and taking back the cost of the five tables plus all red packets from those five tables.
It's a little frustrating when my mum says that this is a modern world now, and not like weddings of last time, where parents decided who came to the wedding banquet, and parents footed the bill. Now, it's modern. We decide who to invite, and we foot the bill.
Can thoust strike the balance between culture and modern?
Is there such a need to draw the line your wedding and my son's wedding? Has the world evolved so much that the groom and the bride are on par, and thus, the bride's family to offer to pay for the wedding since the groom's family isn't rich.
All my life, I have co-existed with my parents. While I have a peaceful relationship with them, I honestly don't feel that they know me at all. Sure, there were times they took care of me, when I was sick, or watched me grow up. But they haven't been growing up with me. I was patient when anger took a hold of her, or when I didn't greet her when I went home and she gave me the cold shoulder. All my life, I grew up with the mantra that parents are always right. Or the mantra that I displayed at home. I never argued back, never really threw a tantrum or a big fuss. I accepted my parents making mistakes because at a young age, I knew they weren't perfect.
It is more disappointing than frustrating that the hand that fed you now pulls your ear.
From you saying that I should stay with her, to saying that cause I'm staying with her that's why you can't sell the house to the first buyer, to saying that it is my wedding so I should pay the bill cause it's a modern world.
Is not a wedding a joyous celebration? Of the growing up of both parties, of the blessed union of both as they come together as one?
Time for me to walk the walk, unlike some who just talk the talk and don't walk the walk.
Guess I'll have to beg, borrow and bury myself in debt because I want to thank my friends for making me who I am and to let them be a part of this celebration.
