“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
― C.S. Lewis
Being a housewife (or homemaker, if you will) can be boring and lonesome especially when your days are filled with going to the market, hanging up the laundry, taking in the laundry, folding the laundry (gosh, I’m having an affair with the laundry!!!), planning the daily menu, preparing the daily meals, playing with the baby or toddler and finally, picking up the school-going kid.
It’s doing the SAME routine every day and if you don’t find something new to do, you could GO CRAZY. Or worse, you could end up with child abuse. Seriously.
Two years ago, I was a full-time housewife with a 1 year old toddler – I even thought of buying a bike to go places with her I WAS THAT BORED 
Of course, I didn’t get the bike because it’s too dangerous to cycle on the roads!!!
One morning, I was doing my usual round of flirting with the butcher in the hope of getting a lower price on the pork bones. Tough luck, (I think) he only has eyes for the young and nubile cake seller so he couldn’t be bothered with me, bah!
Then, I saw some nuts (real kacang, not the crazy kind) and pushed the baby over. In an attempt at early childhood education or I was becoming a nut myself, I think I must be mumbling, “Almonds nuts or hazel nuts? Oh, walnuts…Eh, what is this?”
Suddenly, a man’s voice boomed out, “You speak English. Are you a Singaporean?”
Aiyo, do I look and sound kiasu??? Oh dear…(wink, wink)
“No, I’m a Malaysian. Are you a Singaporean?”
“Yes, yes, yes. Malaysian, Singaporean, samelah…”
It was a Chinese man and a woman in their late 50s. We all laughed gaily – I was half crazy because it’s so rare to meet people who are such good sports
We chatted and chatted about the food, the moon, the sky and of course, the cute baby and my depressing life as a half-crazy housewife who talks about nuts.
Then, we had to part our ways and the gentleman (he didn’t ask me for my phone number, which I wouldn’t have given anyway) gave me his name card and told me that they are always in town every few months – he asked me to email him or call him to stay in touch.
He also said, “Please call us if you ever need ANY help. Don’t be shy, ok? It must be tough being alone with kids…”
So nice, right? I think I floated back home because it had been such a nice chat. I think I planned to email him. I think I planned to invite them over for dinner one weekend.
I think I forgot everything because I was busy with the kids and I also started working full-time.
Guess what?
I was at the airport recently and Hubby was checking in the luggage while I kept one evil eye on one devil angel bouncing around and another eye on the other angel who was thankfully a bit too sleepy to wanna get out of the stroller…
I was admiring a Louis Vuitton handbag on a woman’s baggage trolley because it was beautifully designed and looked practical.
In fact, I was whispering to Hubby that IF IF IF he ever wanted to buy me an LV bag to please get something like THAT.
Keywords: Slim, flat, open top, TWO handles. No bread loaf!!!
The lady finished checking in her bags, pushed her baggage trolley and started talking to ME.
I was all bug-eyed because
a) I was horrified in case she overheard me talking about her LV bag and
b) she spoke to me in Mandarin.
Forcing my sleep-deprived brain fogged up by Louis Vuitton fantasies and adrenaline to focus, I hear the lady asking me if I was the one she met at a food outlet years ago.
Since I meet quite a lot of people at food outlets, I couldn’t place her although she looked familiar. Then, I realized that she’s the man’s wife!!!
As she continued to describe the details of our chance meeting, I squealed in delight when I remember her and quickly told Hubby who was looking a bit dazed hahaha…
Anyway, we went to one side to catch up. She was just as flabbergasted about meeting up AGAIN after all these years and said that we should keep in touch.
She said that I had 人缘 (rén yuán) and she ain’t the fist one to tell me that, ok? 
One thing’s for sure, we will be going out with each other soon!!!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
so nice to meet new friends like that !!
you are a good story teller … hahaha.. i remember that episode… oh.. u didn’t contact them at all?!
Lilis – Yes, especially nice people
Chew Lee – Cool, right? Remember how I agonized over what to cook for lunch / dinner for them? If things go right, we may be meeting up soon. Yippee!!!