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Yesterday was Chinese New Year and everyone (even the non-Chinese community)  celebrate its coming with festivities. Since we are all Chinese looking people in the family because of some Chinese blood that blended in with our Filipino lineage, my husband deemed it wise that we should also practice some of their customs like celebrating Chinese New Year every year.

Sans the colorful costumes and  dragon dance, my husband bought a box of the well loved sweet sticky rice cake and fried it in eggs and we all feasted on it. We thought of buying mooncakes, too, but sadly our local store didn’t have them this year.

Aba, my eleven year old daughter tried to incorporate some feng shui practice, too in our household.   

ABA: Mama, were you not born under the year of the Horse?

ME: yes, why? 

ABA: According to the news, those like you who were born under the year of the horse should eat ice cream today so that you will all be protected from having bad luck. isn’t that great?  

ME: (pleasantly surprised) Really? Why ice cream in particular?

ABA: I don’t know. i just overheard it from the news. Each of us has our own  protection against bad luck.

ME: You mean to say, the ice cream should only be for me?

ABA: nodded her head.

ME: Okay, and what about yours? Papa’s and Abi’s (her elder sister)? What are your protections for this year? 

Aba was a dragon  while my husband was a snake and Abi was a dog. 

ABA: (She paused for a moment before answering.) Oh, i didn’t stay long enough to listen for the rest of the news.

ME: (quite taken aback) and why not? 

ABA:  it’s okay, mama, it’s not important. we don’t believe in it, anyway. it’s only you who do and i just get yours. Can I buy you ice cream, now?

(The truth is I’m not really much of a feng shui believer but i do practice its number one rule, CLEAR THE MESS. And everytime i am in the housekeeping mode, i would always reprimand everyone that the good vibes of feng shui won’t enter our house because of the clutter they create. Neither am i an ice cream fanatic.  Everyone in the family is an ice cream lover except me, although i indulge myself with a serving or two once in a while and so i dismissed the idea.)

ABA: Hey ma, your ice cream?

ME: Later, I’m busy right now.

ABA: But you might forget about it and the day might pass without you eating. Let me buy you now, please? (a little frantic)

ME: (thinking for a moment) Am I the only one here who’ll have ice cream? What about you? 

ABA: shook her head. I’m a dragon remember?

ME: But you love ice cream! I can’t believe you’ll just watch me eat.

ABA: (with a sad smile on her face) it’s okay, after all, it’s only for this day.

ME: so, what flavor should i have?

ABA: Anything, as long as it’s ice cream. Can i go buy now?

ME: Okay, just get me a drumstick.

ABA: one drumstick coming! ( and off she went to buy me my much needed protection. But she came back just as fast as she was gone a few seconds after. she’s wearing a cheshire cat smile.) 

ABA: mama, are you sure it’s okay if i get myself an ice cream, too?

ME: But of course, honey!

ABA: (a cloud of doubt somehow dampen the brightness of her smile) are you sure???

ME: I thought you said you are not a believer? How come you are having doubts now?

ABA: Okay, if that’s what you said. I’ll have a drumstick, too!