That was what I was thinking to myself as the days got nearer to the day of my favourite and respected uncle's day of indulgence drew closer. Not wanting to get something and regretting it later, I decided to leave this Herculean task to the eleventh hour.
What would be special enough to be appreciated by someone who has everything? Sure, we all have heard of the sentimentality and love put into the present rather than the price. But then, he is a result centered practical man of stature who decides by the head not by the heart. Perfumes and shirts sound inappropriate as they deem too personal, not right for a nephew to buy.
Accused of being the unimaginative man that I already am, I decided to wander around a premiere mall in pursuit of the perfect present and came up with a tie (a lame present, my daughter thinks). I thought that it would be practical as his profession would require him to be elegantly attired. A tie would make him that kind of man, not that he is not.
Ok, a tie it is, I told myself. Which tie, from where? I cannot be getting a tie which is just hanging off a rack somewhere sold on wholesale with buy one - free one offer, can I?
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As I was walking aimlessly failing to locate a shop dedicated to specialty ties, which unfortunately all seem to have closed down as I think most Malaysian men are more comfortable dressing down then up! I thought, maybe the host was just wanted our fellowship, not our gifts. So, the attendance of all the relatives spanning the spine of the peninsular would be the biggest gift. But then, Uncle is always there with something in his hands at all of my important moments without fail. And I have never really bought him anything. Scrolling down Amazon.com one day, I did come across a box set of DVDs which I thought would excite him- a complete collection of Ian Fleming's spy James Bond's films from the 1962 Dr No all the way to the 2008 Quantum of Solace. But then, I pondered too long and procrastinated that by the time I decided on that, it was a wee bit too late to get the gift on time.
Then it manifested... A shop that would leave a mark, a shop that had class, a brand of international standards that would complete a man besides putting the gentle prefix to a man.
Then another set of headache... The choice of tie - no! Too loud for a 70 year old, too bright for a lawyer... Finally settled for 2013 Spring Collection which was just out hot from the oven, so to speak, in collaboration with upcoming lunar new year and their entry into the Chinese market. Yeah, right! Business strategy?
The salesperson went on taking about their tradition of fabric making in Italy and how their ties can be handed down generations after generations. (I can almost hear the executor of the will reading, "To my last vagabond son, I leave my collection of ties...and the rest of my property goes to charity..." And the son going, "bloody lunatic old fool!" I digress...
I did not even bother to look at the price tag for fear of inciting a missed heart beat but charged it to the card anyway. Happy birthday, LM!
What would be special enough to be appreciated by someone who has everything? Sure, we all have heard of the sentimentality and love put into the present rather than the price. But then, he is a result centered practical man of stature who decides by the head not by the heart. Perfumes and shirts sound inappropriate as they deem too personal, not right for a nephew to buy.
Accused of being the unimaginative man that I already am, I decided to wander around a premiere mall in pursuit of the perfect present and came up with a tie (a lame present, my daughter thinks). I thought that it would be practical as his profession would require him to be elegantly attired. A tie would make him that kind of man, not that he is not.
Ok, a tie it is, I told myself. Which tie, from where? I cannot be getting a tie which is just hanging off a rack somewhere sold on wholesale with buy one - free one offer, can I?
.JPG)
As I was walking aimlessly failing to locate a shop dedicated to specialty ties, which unfortunately all seem to have closed down as I think most Malaysian men are more comfortable dressing down then up! I thought, maybe the host was just wanted our fellowship, not our gifts. So, the attendance of all the relatives spanning the spine of the peninsular would be the biggest gift. But then, Uncle is always there with something in his hands at all of my important moments without fail. And I have never really bought him anything. Scrolling down Amazon.com one day, I did come across a box set of DVDs which I thought would excite him- a complete collection of Ian Fleming's spy James Bond's films from the 1962 Dr No all the way to the 2008 Quantum of Solace. But then, I pondered too long and procrastinated that by the time I decided on that, it was a wee bit too late to get the gift on time.Then it manifested... A shop that would leave a mark, a shop that had class, a brand of international standards that would complete a man besides putting the gentle prefix to a man.
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It was no garden party but was a bash nevertheless! Even Shahrukh Khan was there! |
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| G- Music Man |
I did not even bother to look at the price tag for fear of inciting a missed heart beat but charged it to the card anyway. Happy birthday, LM!
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