The Inside Story of the Launch...

Saturday, 25th September 2010
by Lynn Wong



It was past 11.00pm when we arrived home from the Raintree Club after the
launch. Everyone of the crew who helped in some way to put the event together
was exhausted.


The excitement of the day had begun to wear off taken over by a weariness that had
slowly crept over me. The legs were showing signs of strain from the 4 inch stilettos,
newly acquired heels from Charles & Keith on the suggestion received 'to put your
best foot forward as attention will be on it!" The now visible blisters at both the
heels and small toes are reminders that humans are vain creatures.
But I don't mind the discomfort...it was worth the effort!


The hat is new and it costs a bundle but again dollars well-spent. 
It complements the new green dress.
Vanity, thy name is woman. But I was happy...deliriously happy until ....


The weather was a disaster.
When we left for the Club at 11.30am, we felt that we were much too early but
anyway reasoned that we can always have our lunch there.
Dark clouds had already gathered and were looming menacingly over us.
Signs of a thunderstorm and in recent times these were devastating in many ways
to say the least. One was about to unleash its fury.


The road repair works at some parts of the highway were no help.
Traffic was a nightmare and people were holed out in their cars for more
than an hour, some even two.
They were as hot as the engines that were running but not moving ...
I was beginning to fret.


We arrived at the Clubhouse only moments before it started to pour.
This was not good and even the Club manager looked concerned.
He too had just struggled for more than 2 hours inching on the highway to
get to his office.


What dreadful weather. My heart sank further as the clock ticked faster.
3.00p.m. and there was still no crowd. The Club house looked deserted...forlorn.
Even my MC was skeptical if she could make it in time. She too was running late.
I stopped breathing.


The hat helped. It hid my anxieties.
Who was it who wrote that, "Life is difficult. It is full of bad breaks,
heartaches, hard knocks and impossible situations.
You will fall and hurt yourself many times. When that happens,
just pick yourself up, dust off, brace yourself, put on your brightest smile,
fake it if you must until your make it and go back into the ring, fighting..."
Hey, I wrote that! What better time to practice what I preach!


And then my MC called at precisely 3.17 pm to announce that she was nearby.
I started to breathe again.


Yes, we had some anxious moment and the weather played havoc with our emotions.
I could have chosen to fly into a rage or break into tears; feign ill, faint,
fret and fume but I'm glad I chose instead to keep the faith.
Maintain a positive attitude. Think happy thoughts. Laugh at myself and
give thanks...but all the while keeping my eyes on the entrance door!
And indeed there were so many, many, many reasons to be grateful.


We were isolated at the private function room and so had no idea what
was happening outside. But I would imagine that in time the skies cleared,
the traffic jam eased, the roads cleared and traffic started moving again.
And perhaps some people who had already started to turn away and decided
to give the launch a miss had second thoughts.
They probably U-turned and although, grumbling and cursing at the weather
and traffic (not at me, of course) got back in line for the slow crawl to the Club.


As the launch went underway, guests began and continued to file in and
in no time most of the seats were taken.
The program went without a glitch and my MC was fabulous.....superb.
She had the audience spellbound eating out of the palm of her hand.
Everyone relaxed, sat back in their chairs, stretched their legs, some even
kicked off their shoes and had a really enjoyable time.....


I sat in the garden of memories,  awashed with emotions ... huge bouquets artfully
arranged with an assortment of beautiful, exotic, imported and expensive flowers.
Hundreds of blooms combined emitting a tantalizing, playful, breezy, seductive and 
suggestive mixture of natural perfume, cleansing the tension of this most
"unforgettable" afternoon.


I am blessed .....

(to be continued...)
 

Let the pictures tell the story....

Sequence of Events:

*    Showing the entrance to the Raintree Club

*    Signing the Guest Book

*    Guests mingling

*    Introductions

*    Quiz/ang-pow time

*    Book Reading by the audience

*    Book Signing

*    Photography session.

*    Job well done -- time to rest the feet ....hehehehe

 

 

 

Click on the picture to read more

From the chapter on "Mother Dearest.." by Lynn Wong

She loves you irregardless of your lackadaisical attitude towards her.

You think she is bothersome with her incessant nagging.

She loves you despite your indifference.

Someday you are going to miss her.

You will pine for the long chats over mugs of hot chocolate in the very lived-in 
kitchen at the old family home.

You will wish that she is still here to listen to your mindless jabber.

You will search for her for anecdotes and remedies for relief of every ailment from 
diarrhoea to depression!

But for the moment, you think mother is a pain!

Tell your MSN friends they will have to go.  Mother is on the line!

"Hi Mum, what's up?"

"Have you eaten" mother asks. "It's cold outside.  Put on a blazer.  
Don't stay out too late. 

Did I mention to you not to refuel in the nights?  
Even petrol stations are not safe any more!"

You roll your eyes and imitate her rantings, making funny faces.

Mother continues, " Make sure you don't pick up strangers. 

Never just trust anyone even if he is in uniform!"

Your eyes turn heaven-wards as you wait impatiently for her to finish.

"Sweetie, are you still there.  Say something." Mother suspects you may have 
hung up on her ..... again !

"Ya, Ma, stop nagging"....

Mum sighs with relief.  "Okay, but I love you."

Mother has stopped fretting over the sort of movies that you should watch, 
the friends you keep, the junk food you eat or the late nights.

She thinks your multi-colored spiky punk look is spooky but she keeps her opinion 
to herself. But is some matters she just can't help herself.

Stop driving so fast!  And don't text while you are going at 120km/hour. 

How do kids manage that?  Making love texting while maneuvering peak time traffic!

From the chapter on "The Kids Are Watching.." by Lynn Wong

Children are impressionable and at a very young age look to adults for acceptance, approval, affirmation and affection. A child’s greatest pain is the neglect and rejection of his parents.

Parents remain the greatest influence in their children’s development of character and attitudes. They wield the power to shape and mould these young minds and to provide a solid foundation on which to build their futures. Children are walking in their parents’ foot steps.

We’ve tried to shirk the responsibility and pass it to the teachers, maids, grand-parents and other well meaning individuals but ultimately the accountability of our children remain with us.

Extended family and domestic helps can assist us to ease the burden and enormous task of raising children but never to totally exempt us.

From the chapter on " Power Lunch " by Lynn Wong

Then there is also the occasional power lunch. 

Top brass executives in crisp black suits with no nonsense look. 

Their designer ties spotless and adjusted at just the right angle to show “YSL”. 
I squint and try to move closer. It is an original.

Dark glasses come off in the dim interior of the fine dining restaurant. 

Big guys settle into big chairs. Waiters asking for their orders are given the 
icy look and dismissed with a brush of their hand. They move discreetly away and 
wait for the appropriate signal to approach the table again but for now, 
they wait in absolute silence.

Two young waiters dressed smartly in their uniforms stand 

attentively a little distance away. Legs slightly apart and arms crossed hanging 
loosely just a little below their waist. They seem quite familiar with such scenes and 
have been well trained and accustomed to lunch time power games.

Interest once again returns to the seated executives. 

Eyes cross, verbal swords raise, menacing looks exchange, a wicked chuckle is heard. 
And then someone bends and relents, voices softened, differences dissolved, 
relationships reconciled, deals made. 

Handshakes followed. The whole episode is concluded all within fifteen minutes.

From the chapter on "Hard As Lightning, Soft As Candle Light.." by Lynn Wong

This could even be your story....

She has that commanding air about her. 

Few words are necessary to convey a message. 

One is abruptly dismissed with a slight brush of her hand. 

Her pursed lips and slant eyes shooting daggers speak volume. 

My friend, she suffers no fool! 

Cross the line and she will stare you into submission.

She would be tough opposition to face, for sure. 

One wouldn’t wish to be at the other end, crossing swords. 

I suspect one would rather be sitting behind the computer - making love!

And certainly not a person one would forget in a hurry. 

Underneath the strict, stern and stubborn demeanor lies a heart that reaches out 

with caring, compassion, kindness and warmth. 

And a generosity that knows no boundary. 

Hers is a stubborn love that refuses to go away.

She is a woman of substance - of contradiction.

In being the organized, controlled, unruffled, detailed, meticulous, prim and 
proper person that she is, in contrast she is also spunky, spicy, sensual, 
and sophisticated; frivolous, and fiercely faithful. 

Dare I venture to describe her, hard as lightning, soft as candle light.

From the chapter on "Missing you.." by Lynn Wong

It gets pretty lonely up in the cabin on the hill.

A familiar face is missing ... the laughter is gone.

The unfinished wine is a sad reminder...

of a love that could have been.

The lingering smoky smell of Blend Eleven.... and the sight of a recently smoked pipe carelessly tossed on the coffee table brings afresh glistening tears.

The replay of "Wish You Were Here"

on the old recorder doesn't help.

There is a desperation... a rising panic.

A frightening thought flashed through the mind.

Are you ever coming back?

Although I missed your physical presence but in my mind you've never left.

Wherever I go, I shall take you with me in my heart.

I loved you once, and love you still.

Always have and always will.

Me, a romantic?

Absolutely. I'm a die-hard.