As many of you know, I am a baby-boomer born in the 1960's. I loved my childhood and I grew up with Cliff Richard, The Beatles, Elvis, Nat King Cole, The Black and White Minstrel Show, Andy Williams, Flintstones, Bee Gees and many other unforgettable artistes and movies.
At every family gathering, I let my hair down with my cousins and we would gyrate our hips and do the Twist or the a-go-go dances with our heads shaking to the left and right, hands moving up and down in a most rhythmic fashion. Such glorious days!
I remember how as a four year-old I was singing "Yellow Submarine" this way:
eee ol ladeee yellow submarine instead of We all live in a yellow submarine!!!
It was when I learnt how to read that I realized what utter nonsense I had been crooning and the best part was - everyone sang the same mumbo jumbo.
More importantly, I was so young when May 13, 1969 happened. The only thing I remember was my mom coming to school to take me home and how I rejoiced because all the cousins were at home and we made such a racket until we heard the sirens and saw the truckloads of soldiers in front of my grandmother's house. Silence. Then we knew what it was all about and our hearts were filled with fear. Such innocence gone in the twinkling of an eye.
After the storm, I remember how we were all so patriotic and sang "Berjaya" and "Negara-ku" with so much gusto and the schools and media pumped us with so much propoganda.
Fast forward forty years later. We may be more developed but are we really one nation now? I cannot believe that this nation has grown 40 years older but we seem to be more backward in mentality than what we were then back in the 1960's.
My uncle was Tunku Abdul Rahman's very close friend and I remember how I was filled with so much awe and respect when I went to his home as a young girl. His presence seemed to fill the whole room and his calm and serene demeanour complimented his princely air and yet, there was this humane and humble note about him. Great men have such characteristics indeed. I still have the handwritten testimonial that Tunku wrote for me in 1983 - a real treasure indeed.
I believe that what made the sixties special was not so much the music or movies or that black and white television was introduced. It was because then - we had a Prime Minister who truly loved the people. He was a Prince and yet so much a man who could relate to the rakyat, a leader who led without imposing on others, a politician who exuded integrity and fairness in all that he said and wrote. It was truly leadership by example and he commanded the respect of the masses.
Did you know that in 1977, having acquired substantial shares in The Star, a Penang-based newspaper, Tunku Abdul Rahman became the newspaper's Chairman? His columns, "Looking Back" and "As I See It", were critical of the government. In 1987, we all know The Star was banned by a certain leader.
I doubt we can ever have a leader like Tunku Abdul Rahman...Of course I hope that there will rise from amongst us one with his wisdom, stature and perspective ...Is that idealistic me speaking?
The 60's and 70's ...such wondrous years for Malaysia....
Anyway, if you want a more international flashback of the 60's, please click on THIS LINK which Angela sent me today. It will take you down memory lane and give you a summary of important events, music and icons.
I will be changing the template of this blog soon. I hope that my dear readers will not react negatively to the new template. The truth is, I am quite sick of the sweet pink template with hearts which does not really gel with the content that I post these days.
So this is advance warning that this pink template will change into something else soon.:-)
Please bear with me and stay with me, dear reader. Thanks!
Here's wishing you a lovely evening!
Cinderella was now 75 years old. After a fulfilling life with the now dead Prince, she happily sat upon her rocking chair, watching the world go by from her front porch, with a cat called Alan for companionship.
One sunny afternoon, out of nowhere, appeared the Fairy Godmother.
Cinderella said "Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years?"
The Fairy Godmother replied "Well Cinderella, since you have lived a good, wholesome life since we last met, I have decided to grant you 3 wishes. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?"
Cinderella is taken aback, overjoyed and after some thoughtful consideration and almost under her breath she uttered her first wish: "I wish I was wealthy beyond comprehension."
Instantly, her rocking chair was turned into solid gold. Cinderella was stunned. Alan, her old faithful cat, jumped off her lap and scampered to the edge of the porch, quivering with fear.
Cinderella said "Oh thank you, Fairy Godmother".
The Fairy Godmother replied "It is the least I can do. What does your heart wish for your second wish?"
Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said: "I wish I was young and full of the beauty of youth again".
At once, her wish having been desired, became reality, and her beautiful youthful visage had returned. Cinderella felt stirrings inside her that had been dormant for years and long forgotten vigor and vitality began to course through her very soul.
Then the Fairy Godmother again spoke "You have one more wish, what shall you have?"
Cinderella looked over to the frightened cat in the corner and said: "I wish you to transform Alan my old cat into a beautiful and handsome young man".
Magically, Alan suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up, that when complete he stood before her, a boy, so beautiful the like of which she nor the world had ever seen, so fair indeed that birds begun to fall from the sky at his feet.
The Fairy Godmother again spoke: "Congratulations, Cinderella. Enjoy your new life." And, with a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, she was gone.
For a few eerie moments, Alan and Cinderella looked into each other's eyes. Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most stunningly perfect boy she had ever seen.
Then Alan walked over to Cinderella, who sat transfixed in her rocking chair, and held her close in his young muscular arms.
He moved close to her ear, and into her ear breathed as much as whispered, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath, "I bet you regret having me neutered now, don't you?"
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Bill's all excited about his new rifle. So, he goes bear hunting in Alaska. The first bear he sees is a little brown bear, and he kills it with his first shot. There is a tap on his shoulder, and he turns around to see a big black bear.
The black bear says "You've got 2 choices. One, I maul you to death or Two, we have sex."
Bill bends over for the bear. He's sore for 2 days, but he recovers and vows revenge.
Bill heads out on another trip to Alaska and he finds the black bear and kills him. At that moment there is a tap on his shoulder. A huge grizzly is standing right behind him.
The grizzly says, "That was a big mistake. You've got 2 choices, "Either I maul you to death or we have sex."
Bill bends over. He survives, but he's really hurting and takes quite a bit of time to recover, and, he's outraged. Sure enough, he heads back to Alaska and finds the grizzly and shoots him at point blank range.
There's a tap on his shoulder. He turns around to find an enormous polar bear, and the polar bear says, "You don't really come here for the hunting, do you?"
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A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at Burger King. He noticed that they ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries. One for him, one for her, until each had half of them.
Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup, and set it in front of his wife. The old man began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap.
The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn't have to split theirs.
The old gentleman said, "Oh, no. We've been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50."
The young man than asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, "Not yet. It's his turn using the teeth."
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Goodbye Mother
A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things when he noticed an old lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued on. Finally he went to the checkout line, but she got in front of him.
"Pardon me," she said, "I'm sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It's just that you look just like my son, who just died recently."
"I'm very sorry," replied the young man, "is there anything I can do for you?"
"Yes," she said, "As I'm leaving, can you say 'Good bye, Mother'? It would make me feel so much better."
"Sure," answered the young man.
As the old woman was leaving, he called out, "Goodbye, Mother!" As he stepped up to the checkout counter, he saw that his total was £127.50.
"How can that be?" He asked, "I only purchased a few things!"
"Your mother said that you would pay for her," said the clerk.
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All The Thanks I Need
A married couple was in a terrible accident where the woman's face was severely burned.
The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft any skin from her body because she was too skinny, so the husband offered to donate some of his own skin.
However, the only skin on his body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from his buttocks. The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honor their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter.
After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman's new beauty. She looked more beautiful than she ever had before! All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty!
One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice. She said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. There is no way I could ever repay you."
"My darling," he replied, "I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."
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Have a lovely day!!
