This Precious Life

When I was a young punk, I used to skip over to  Ming Ming’s house to play Masak-masak. We would pretend to sip tea out of toy teacups while chatting in the voices of pompous old ladies. Sometimes, my Ken would propose to Ming Ming’s Barbie and we would host a wedding ceremony for our little ones.

When I was in primary school, my family and I moved house. Ming Ming and I hardly kept in touch. When we do meet again, we’re not quite sure what to talk about. We have very little in common now. Still, there’s an unspoken bond between us that’s hard to explain in words. Let’s just say I feel strangely protective of the gal and pray for the brightest ever future for her.

Three weeks ago, I received an invitation to celebrate Ming Ming’s wedding to Huei Nam.

Like any typical chinese wedding, the bride and groom poured champagne onto a pyramid of wine glasses. Someone came up with the idea in the 1980’s and it was so popular with the brides & grooms that it got established in the Book of Law of Chinese Wedding Customs.

If you’re Chinese and got married without pouring champagne onto a pyramid of wine glasses, your marriage is not considered legitimate. It’s written on page 83 of the book.

Thankfully, Ming Ming knew the law and even made sure there were witnesses. In the event of dispute, 500 guests can come forward and say, “Yes, Ming Ming & Huei Nam are indeed married. I saw them pour champagne onto a pyramid of wine glasses with my own eyes.”

Now that the champagne have been poured, there were congratulatory toasts all around. Every 10 guests get to offer one toast to the newly-weds. With about 500 guests, Ming Ming sipped at least 50 times. She was amazingly able to hold down her alcohol. One might even suspect that it’s chinese tea in her glass. ;)

I sat next to a polite young man. Just when we’ve been served with expensive abalone, he tipped over my wine glass and drowned my abalone in wine.

He felt so bad about it that I had to assure him I will send him a bill to pay for my wine-drenched Versace gown. He felt much better after that. I felt very kind.

Just before we left, I finally had a chance to hold the precious bride. I can hardly believe that my childhood friend is married. What happened to those years between the time we stopped playing Masak-masak and now?

Her aunt came on stage and belted out cantopop songs amplified by a Karaoke System.

I forgot to mention earlier that this is the second part of the law. In a traditional Chinese wedding, you have to have your relatives croon on the Karaoke to be considered married, once and for all.

To all brides-to-be and grooms-to-be reading this, congratulations and don’t ever forget our chinese wedding traditions. Yam Seng to all!

PS: My dress was not really a Versace, in case you have to ask.

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