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Saturday, February 14, 2004
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Finished Nic Nickleby. Heavy (not Intense) reading. Took bout a week still.
Very good. Now i can understand y there's a number of critics who weren't able to enjoy e movie. The movie didn't do the book 'justice' (n thus Dickens). But it's a matter of precedence really. If the movie was screened first and a book was actually written on it, i would have claimed e reverse. And this claim has no purpose ,whatsoever, dedicated to belittling Dickens or e book "Nicholas Nickleby". It jus means I enjoyed both very much, in respect of their separate compounds and styles. It would make not much point, to me, to compare the two , rubbing out one for e other, in order to state what probably everyone who read e book and watched e movie knows - that if they were to be put side by side, e scale would tip so drastically in favor of e written work that e screenplay would have no relative worth ; and that would be rather sad, since i enjoyed both quite so much.
But screenplays are screenplays. E constraints are numerous. But still i would have preferred certain characters to have shone through.
~
Think i can readily conclude that when my dad starts to hit e age where he is conventionally labelled as "old", he would be a particular that would bring out e worst in me. In other words, i foresee myself not being able to live very harmoniously with my old man. Dun be mistaken, i've always loved my dad, appreciated him for all he has done and displayed my affections with a good can of Stout from time to time. But neither am i so noble and big-hearted that i could overlook my dad's weaknesses or even translate these shortcomings in favor of him. (he din piss me off. i'm not writing this in indignation.)
He's dowdy and old-fashioned. And he lacks a general interest in things besides his work, family and basking in e glory of how both has well succeeded (u should hear him brag bout his sons, even I shudder).
And food and booze of course. That's all. No other interest which he has (be it badminton, ironing, handymanning, cars) would accompany him into old age, for time would wear those muscles of his and soon enough, he shouldn't be climbing up ladders with his very awkward belly of his, hammering at walls or painting them. I haven't heard him speak of art, of life, of nature - he appears to me a very strong figure, like someone so infallible and unfailing, whose words only comes in logic and reason, whose desires are rarely out of personal wants. (except in watches and bags , he is a very weird collector )
And i sometimes stop and think , ' What does my old man think when he walks past fauna and flora or read poems by chance or watch dramas where tears are shed and words of love are said ? ' And it seems to me, he puts them down probably. Therefore he doesn't watch dramas. He watches Discovery Planet and documentaries and history flicks. He doesn't read anything besides management related skill books. But he can't possibly escape e beauty of nature can he? But i think he is capable of completely disregarding them. It is as baffling as it is in a way, worrying how different i am from my pop. But he isn't stone. He is a man of great wit and humor, capable of doing a twist or a dance routine with a block of cheese after downing a few glasses, 'is e funny man at social gatherings, e soprano on Sunday nights.
But back to e pt. of y i prob wouldn't get along with e old him. He's gonna stop working and that'll fraction his life into half. And he will lose his authoritative figure at home , he prides himself now in being e thick trunk that holds e family upright and proper, but when we take over, he is going to feel really empty.
All these are my predictions , and not mine alone, for my mother meekly agrees with me wholeheartedly. He'll be terribly naggy and whiny , esp. with anything concerning his health, from a toenail to his tennis elbow (watever dat is), we are witnessing these inclinations now, it's very tough to keep giving him e infinite attention he demands so we sometimes decide to ignore him. I cannot bear to see him when he turns 70. My mom's gonna suffer. Haha. *smile*
We have tried telling him to quickly get himself acquainted with e outside world and step out of his nutshell. Of course, it wasn't phrased as stated, no, not to a man who works for MNCs - a 'nutshell' ??? he'll flip i tell u. But he refuses. No social dancing, no reading, no more mahjong (he was a mad fan of the magical tiles once. it's hereditary i tell u...). He's complacent about life. but oh well, he's pretty old already. there is this inertia that comes with age. AND i dun really wanna see him dance. Heh. It's not in his character. But then i can only regretfully think that, his character does not seem to promise much joy in his old age then.
and elp, he's beginning to start e old ppl thing. Where they rattle on and on droningly about some object of their concern (a bag for an instance) and u try to put across e point of utmost disinterest and display ur heartfelt boredom thru ur tone and mannerisms (and feel absolutely guilty but u'll rather not encourage him.. ), but all ur efforts seem to pass thru him and still he drones on. Egad. And worst of all, my blood rises to its highest level at nagging. I am most intolerant of that trait. And it seems (so ironically) to be e most distinct flaw of my dearest father.
But he really dotes on me. Till this day, i am still quite sure (so is my bro) that there is still slight favoritism showed. And just this fact alone (not e favoritism bit, e dotes bit) should be enough to let me accept him for man he was meant to be, respect him for e great father that he is, and love him for e hero (albeit very very naggy) he will always be, till he no longer can dote on me, nor I, him.
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