Today is International Women’s Day. When you hear the word, “woman”, it will become confusing…for most…men (said in a whisper!), and women. Just the word “woman”, a simple 5-letter word; is not as simple as it seems. W-o-m-a-n the plural is as pronounced: wooman, woomen, veman, and the real toughie: “women” that is pronounced wee-men, spelt as it sounds. In Malaysia, the dynamics of the English language is stretched to its thinnest, taking it to the farthest corners of the boundaries before it becomes another language. The language is highly elastic, that’s what I think. Guess what? Who are we to say which pronunciation is right or wrong? Just enjoy the many shades or variety of sounds of each word. Another example is the word “their”. Should I go further?

I won’t go into the intrinsic of International Women’s day or delve into the importance of it as I have not researched on it and I am sure there will be much to be covered, if I do. However, I will share a little of the importance and how it resonates in my life.

The two women that are pivotal in my everyday life are my wife, Jeannie: and my daughter, Laura. They create a zillion shades of colour in life that no two days are the same. On weekdays, we go our separate work ways. In the evenings, when we meet after work (though in reality, work never ends as we continue with after work, work.), we, share how are our day went. I have learnt to say less so that I can absorb more of the experiences of Jeannie and Laura. It is like appreciating the finer strokes of the paint brush done in a painting on canvas.

Another person who had an impact (and still does in certain ways) in my life was my late sister, Jennifer. In the last years of her life, she preferred being call, “Jen”. My mum and dad also called her “Jen”. I still referred to her by her full name. Maybe, there’s a reason behind it.

Jennifer is a year 4 days older than me; her birthday is July 6th and mine is on July 10th. Shared birthdays in our early years. That is about as common as we got. Oh ya, we also shared the same surname. Other than that, we were poles apart especially in our thinking. We never really fought except on trivial matters, again in our early days. As we grew older, we became much closer, as with our siblings, too.

When she was diagnosed with cancer, she was one helluva brave woman. She decided that she wanted to live the rest of her life on her terms. She decided that she wanted to do all the things and experience all the experiences that would have otherwise be hampered by spending time in hospital with chemotherapy and radiation treatment. She decided that she wanted to live life to the fullest. SHE DID! In a few days, it will mark her 5th anniversary. Her message to women, in fact to all: Live life to the fullest.

I think Jennifer got much of her living skills from mum. Mum and dad have never stopped being mum and dad. They always fuss over us. Mum has always been the gentle one. So, I guess now you know where we, my siblings and I; got our stubborn ways from.😁😅😂

I take this opportunity to wish all women the world over, “Happy International Women’s Day”.