Susan Boyle, Susan Boyle. The world is agog with this Scottish “lass”. I use the term “lass” rather liberally.
Whilst the world marvels at her voice and debates on how soon her hairstyle, frocks and eyebrows are going to undergo a glitzy Hollywood style makeover, I wonder why no one has commented on the one thing that had caught my attention on that episode of Britain’s Got Talent.
Susan Boyle had no hang-ups about telling the world that she’s 47.
Didn’t that strike anyone else? I have a friend (who shall remain nameless, for I do value my life & she knows where I live), who has been 39+ for the past XXXXXX years.
Though, I’ve got to hand it to her; she’s done a good job of looking young, without the help of plastic surgery and layers of western make-up plastered on her face. Yet, some of us know that we (to be honest, that’s more me than anyone else) can make her life a living hell but just threatening to hand out a few obscure clues about her age.
She’s not the only one. There are women who would rather be shot than even give a clue to their age. Oh, sure, they will spew forth statements like, “I’ve been working in this industry for 10 years,” but God only knows if they started working in other industries during World War II.
Then you have American movies which really makes you think on the subject of age. The stories normally go something like this.
Gorgeous mature woman meets cash rich man. Woman claims to be 30. Asinine man is over the moon, marries her.
Ten years passes. She’s supposed to be 40. Then, surprise, surprise, he finds out she’s actually 60 (hmmm … what gave it away?). Oh, oh!
You’ll just have to imagine the man staggering with shock at this point and me left wondering how the hell anyone could pull that off. After all, over here, even the bank teller whom you’ve never laid eyes on before knows your age from your MyKad (Identification Card) number.
Why is it so difficult for people to accept their age? Of course there are times when my age bothers me. As an Indian female in Malaysia, some people may use different terms to address me in informal settings. This could be, “younger sister”, “sister”, “elder sister”, “mother”, “auntie” and for the really old – “grandma”.
That transition that I had to make from “younger sister” to “elder sister” was a little unsettling. From unsettling, it turned into a feeling somewhat like a mild electric shock when ten years later, I was addressed as “auntie”. Sigh!
Sigh, sigh, sigh!
On that first occasion, I just froze. My mind screamed, ““HUH? Who you calling aunite? Moron!”
Then as I stared with narrowed eyes at the person who had addressed me, it made sense. These young working adults were the same age as my college going nieces who called me Aunty non-stop. Time to wake up and smell the old roses!
So, Susan Boyle, you have my utmost respect. For going where no woman would venture. For standing in front of caustic Simon Cowell, whilst the world watched (and later more than 85 million views on the Internet) and declaring your age without apologizing or being even a tiny bit embarrassed about it.
I only hope Susan Boyle, that you’re for real and not some publicity stunt that was pulled to boost ratings.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
I didn’t turn my lights off during Earth Hour
& about plastic bags at Klang Valley bakeries
I didn’t take part in Earth Hour. That’s not really a cool thing to say, is it? Especially since I hang out with some greenies (aka those environmentally conscious people). Well, the thing is
this ….
I live alone. So when Earth Hour was first announced this year, it was like, yeah, right! No way am I going to do that. Whgo is this mad person who thinks I’m going to sit in the dark in a city where desperados think nothing of chopping off your fingers to steal your RM250 ring?
Then came the explanation that we should just turn off the non-essentials. Hellooo …. I already do that! I have also switched to using energy saving bulbs.
One e-mail had suggested that we get together with young relatives, proving to them how it is possible to have a good time without consuming electricity. In retrospect that was a good idea. Admittedly, I should have done something along those lines for my friends who don’t seem to give two hoots about the environment. Undeniably, Earth Hour is a good start for those who don’t bother or know the consequences of our bad habits.
But I digress. What had triggered off this piece was my trip to the bakery last night. I bought four buns. Of the same type. The cashier started to put them into four clear individual plastic bags, after which she would put the whole lot into a bigger bag. Is that really necessary?
All the Klang Valley bakeries do it now. You buy ten items, the young helpers put them into ten different clear plastic bags. I wish I knew which idiot started this trend.
If people can sit in the dark for an hour, can’t they just open their mouths to say, “No, I don’t need so many bags.”
Mind you, at this point, I’m not even asking anyone to take their own plastic bags to the bakery. Just explain that you don’t need so many bags.
Alternatively, bakery owners could train their staff to ask customers if they want their stuff packed individually or not. I bet that most customers have no problem with putting together, for instance all the buns into one, those yellow egg tarts into another, etc. It’s such a small step but it would ultimately mean a lot.
That’s not too much to ask of customers or bakery owners, is it?
& about plastic bags at Klang Valley bakeries
I didn’t take part in Earth Hour. That’s not really a cool thing to say, is it? Especially since I hang out with some greenies (aka those environmentally conscious people). Well, the thing is
this ….
I live alone. So when Earth Hour was first announced this year, it was like, yeah, right! No way am I going to do that. Whgo is this mad person who thinks I’m going to sit in the dark in a city where desperados think nothing of chopping off your fingers to steal your RM250 ring?
Then came the explanation that we should just turn off the non-essentials. Hellooo …. I already do that! I have also switched to using energy saving bulbs.
One e-mail had suggested that we get together with young relatives, proving to them how it is possible to have a good time without consuming electricity. In retrospect that was a good idea. Admittedly, I should have done something along those lines for my friends who don’t seem to give two hoots about the environment. Undeniably, Earth Hour is a good start for those who don’t bother or know the consequences of our bad habits.
But I digress. What had triggered off this piece was my trip to the bakery last night. I bought four buns. Of the same type. The cashier started to put them into four clear individual plastic bags, after which she would put the whole lot into a bigger bag. Is that really necessary?
All the Klang Valley bakeries do it now. You buy ten items, the young helpers put them into ten different clear plastic bags. I wish I knew which idiot started this trend.
If people can sit in the dark for an hour, can’t they just open their mouths to say, “No, I don’t need so many bags.”
Mind you, at this point, I’m not even asking anyone to take their own plastic bags to the bakery. Just explain that you don’t need so many bags.
Alternatively, bakery owners could train their staff to ask customers if they want their stuff packed individually or not. I bet that most customers have no problem with putting together, for instance all the buns into one, those yellow egg tarts into another, etc. It’s such a small step but it would ultimately mean a lot.
That’s not too much to ask of customers or bakery owners, is it?
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