December 25, 2009

• A Hopeful Christmas Dinner

  I've been trying to get out of my Xmas funk and for the most part succeeding. I'll be cooking at my dad's place tonight and I hope it goes well. It's the first time I'm cooking for folks other than my dad and my sis. In reality though, the only thing I'm cooking at his place is the chow mein. The other dishes such as the soup and stew were cooked yesterday. I just have to add some wintermelon, pork meatballs and maybe some crabmeat to the soup today. The stew hopefully should have a deeper flavour after resting overnight. All I have to do is to add some green peas today.
  The red bean soup with dried lily bulb and dried lotus seed is simmering right now. So it's a simple meal.

  I used to marvel at Christmas, the sights, the carols, the gifts, the food - it was a great time for a kid. We had strange relatives that would come by the house. Since all our extended family back home were called aunts or uncles (even if they weren't) we had nicknames for them. There was the baker uncle, the dried salted fish aunt (she always brought us dried salted fish), the beautiful aunt (who always blushed when she heard we call her that but I think she secretly enjoyed it), the big breasted aunt (a term only my brother and I shared), the green truck uncle.... the list goes on.

  While it's not just another day, it's a significant milestone in the calendar. In the past few years, I never knew what to get my parents and now my dad. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer - we didn't go overboard that year but she got things to make her more comfortable. My brother took a lot of pictures. Silently we knew that was very likely our last Christmas together. Outwardly we smiled and kept optimistic. The first Christmas without her was tough. I sat in the seat normally reserved for her in the dining room as we ate that meal. I know why she always chose that place, it was closest to the kitchen.

  I'll likely be seating in the same place in our dining room. I will be able to see into the living room and the familiar chair she would sit in. I'll probably remember the Christmas meals we've had. If I start to get a bit teary eyed, I know I can quickly duck into the kitchen.

  • 10:50 AM
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