Back to Work With "Liang Sum" Post-CNY

She calls me "Kung Chee" (young master, i think!). I call her "Liang Sum" (beautiful aunt). She works as the cleaner on the floor where my office resides. We chat almost everyday when I'm at the office ..... at the same spot near her lil' room where she keeps her cleaning stuff , takes her lunch and take an occasional breather. I always look forward to our occasional cuppa together, especially when I 've had a rough day with my clients. Once a while, I would surprise her with some kuihs, and even the occasional tuna croissant (I found that it was her favourite during one of our many conversations) Our conversations run the gamut, from local politics (she loves her local MP Fong Kui Lun) to social issues (she's anti-DBKL!). She "catches me up" on what is going on with her life. I, in return, offer some words of encouragement and a couple of laughs. "Liang Sum" teaches me much more than I'll ever teach her ..... not that she's nearly 30 years my senior, but because she lives outside of the proverbial box and sees life, society, love, and honesty from a perspective tempered by a hard life.


Today, as I came out of the lift, she greeted me with a radiant smile and a loud robust "Kung Hei Fatt Choy". Thank possums I was not blurry (being the 1st day back to work after 6-days of holiday bliss) as I remembered to put some red packets in my trouser pocket. I returned her greeting with a soft hug and a red packet, and the dazed and almost "starstruck-like" look from her which thereafter broke into a beautiful smile, really made my day.


However, my request to take her picture for my blog (yeap, she knows about blogging too and Raja Petra Kamaruddin-RPK) was promptly and politely turned down. She didn't have to say why, as I knew she was rather superstitious about the photos being used by evil-bloggers-for-evil-intentions-thingy. LOLZ! My coaxing that I wanted everyone to see one of my "fav ladies" didn't work either. Her sly reply was that ...... "my photo will scare the hell out of everyone!" She did allow me to take a snap of her though, after I promised that it was gonna be for my office album. I told her that I would still dedicate today's blog to her, and use a "lin fa" (lotus) picture to represent her. She thanked, wished me every success and hurried to her "office" to get me a "kum" mandarin orange for prosperity.


Chan Yee Lian aka "Liang Sum" inspires me to always count my blessings with what I already have, to be always grounded and mindful that there are many, many more people living under more unfortunate circumstances ..... and to carry on striving with the hope for a better life, even more so at times when things don't seem too smooth-going.


Apart from naming the inspirational norms being parents or other family members, who else inspires you?


Have a Blessed Ox Year "Liang Sum" ....... and to all of you wonderful peeps too!