Liberation Day

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.

-Abraham Lincoln

It is almost the end of June. What a wonderful half of a year. The Dutch celebrated their 65th Liberation Day the same day my husband and I celebrated our 20th anniversary last month. It was a extra special day for us since it was also the day that signified the fact that I had been married to him longer than I'd been single and the fact that he knew me longer than half of his life. He dedicated Shania Twain’s “You are still the one” that was rendered by dopey-eyed Lee Dewyze of American Idol. I reciprocated with Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams.”

While the Dutch took their parade to the streets, we pretty much stayed indoors until it was time to replenish the energy. Boy, did we replenish. Nasi Kampung buffet for lunch and Big Apple Doughnuts and black coffee for desserts. Then, with mocha-swirl ice-cream in each hand, we headed to Maxis counter. Switching from Digi to Maxis was easily done. And with that switch, we were on our way to saving some RM30 a month on cellphone bill.

Since Jusco wasn’t as hectic as it would be during the weekend, we decided to explore every floor there - a feat that couldn’t be justified on any other day. There was a big on-going promotion/ launching of Siti Nurhaliza’s SimplySiti products. I tried some, and I bought some – mainly because they smell fabulous. Next to the area, was a promotion of lacy lingerie. I couldn’t try them there, but I bought some any way – mainly because he said I look fabulous in them. Then we strolled hand-in-hand (the ice-cream has gone by now) to MPH bookstore. Husband bought some work-related books while I mentally visualize the stack of books my son bought for me, of which the pages haven’t seen the light of day yet. Before heading home, we stopped to buy a tiramisu cake at Secret Recipe Outlet, something for the kids. We arrived home just in time to fetch the kids from their Wednesday co-curricular activities. Family (minus the one in college) dinner was at the nearby Tom Yam Restaurant. When the clock struck at midnight, I was a happy woman sleeping next to my sated man.

It wasn’t always this way.

For twenty years, my married life had been in a constant turmoil. Work responsibility clashed with personal duty. Anniversaries were especially difficult for me to handle. While many of my women friends’ husbands neglected to even wish their wives on their special day (memory lapse for being married too long?) , mine offered to take a day off, weeks in advance, if the anniversary happened to fall on a work day. And I always said no. What good would it do if he took a day off while I am at work? May was (still is) always a hectic month in schools. There were that panel meetings to prepare, co-curricular activities to coordinate, special rooms to be decorated in the anticipation of the yearly inspection by the higher up, reports of last month’s students’ attendance and performance to be sent to PPD, teachers’ evaluation report that is due before the semester ended and of course, mid-year exam papers to be formulated, checked and endorsed. There was also that Teachers’ Day Ceremony preparation looming in the horizon.

It didn’t get any better if the anniversary fell on a Saturday. Because every Saturday in May was either a co-curricular activities day for the students (teachers had to be there too) or a Latihan Dalam Perkhidmatan (LDP) Day for teachers (I had to be there since I was the Secretary). It didn’t make much difference if it fell on a Sunday either, because after 6 straight days of working, there just wasn’t much energy left in me to make breakfast, let alone go out for a little getaway to commemorate our special day. Even if we could barricade ourselves in our room, it is hard to get in the mood, with Sunday cartoon (read Spongebob) blasting from the TV downstairs. And, when the clock struck at midnight, neither one of us cared.

Anniversaries, no matter what day it falls on, need be celebrated by being together mentally, spiritually and physically. My husband understands this earlier than I do, and better than any man I know. He puts our anniversary date on the license plate of our family car and on both of our cellphone numbers ( that’s why it is worth mentioning the fact that we change our phone operator on our anniversary day). I know I am not supposed to know (or tell you) this, but he uses the date as passwords and pin numbers in various accounts, including sensitive investment accounts.

I am glad he never stops offering to take the day off just for the two of us. I am glad I have spent the whole day of May 5th this year with the man who is willing to move the earth for me. I am glad I have spent more than half of my life being his wife. All this is made possible because on our anniversary this year I was a full-time wife.