To Men

Dear (Gentle)men,

When women ask for sexual equality, we don't really mean that we want to be treated like men. Do we, in any way, look like members of the same gender to you? Do we have rough skin, hairy arms and thick necks?

Surely you understand that the women liberation movement gathered such force only because there was simply too much mistreatment going on. We don't want to be treated like cattle to be used and bashed according to the masters' will. Women want to be paid the same amount for the same job. And not all women are willing to stay at home after marriage, and what is wrong with that? Don't men appreciate an additional income?

But some men just cannot understand that sexual equality is not the same as anarchy. It doesn't mean that it becomes fine for you to jostle for Mrt seats with us, or elbow past us to get unto the escalator first. And you win because you are 1. bigger 2. taller and 3. very rude. As for those who take the priority seats when there are pregnant ladies around, words fail me.

Of course, you have the right to do these things, just as everyone has the right to be a j*erk, as long as he doesn't break the law, but I would like to think that a knight would be gallant even there isn't any obligation to be so. Even if we ladies have forfeited our claims on chivalry, surely we can ask for a little civility

To Mdm, with regret

I am beginning to wonder if I got my priorities right when I was in school.

I went to a convent school that prided itself for turning out well-groomed, all-rounded little ladies, and so we learnt Art appreciation, Chinese calligraphy, social dance, personal grooming, and various musical instruments. Being a good student, I also did rather well in all kinds of academic subjects, like Chemistry and Biology and Literature.

Nothing,
nothing,
nothing

equipped me with the essential lifeskills though.

One of the most memorable moments during my Home Economics lessons was my teacher screaming at me, 'You numbskull!' I don't really blame her. It must have been really stressful trying to teach butterfingers how to sew, or clean an oven, or make batter. Home Economics lessons went past in a blur, and seriously, teenage girls have other things on their minds you know. We didn't think that one day we are going to be buying utensils, or choosing curtains or doing other matronly tasks like that. no, no, no, my principal told us we were made for great things in life.

And so now, I am doing some revision just in case, but cooking isn't a subject one could simply mug up. I went to look at books with titles like 'Really Simple Dishes', or 'How to Cook Everything Basic', but they don't help much. Problem is, I have no idea what the ingredients listed are. What are caraway seeds...curryway seeds...carryaway seeds? Then, another recipe calls for 'a roasting chicken'. What do they mean? Is it roast chicken, or a raw chicken meant for roasting? Why don't they just write recipes with things you can find in NTUC?

Then Boon One helpfully told me that modern women don't cook. We are too busy. Phew! Ok, that's one problem settled then. But what about the curtains?

Naturally Supernatural

I wasn't expecting this.

I imagined that suddenly, the Red Sea itself would part or the ground would be covered with manna from Heaven.

But what happened was, I discovered that there are many angels around in the form of understanding friends and merciful people.

It isn't magic, but I still think there is something distinctly supernatural the way things are turning out.

I don't really want to say more about what is happening, but if you will, say a little prayer for me.