Un-Housetrained Males Need Not Apply...

Inspired by my Uncle Chico --like Chiko in the Chikopek, but he's not that okay!?-- on the first day of Raya at Grandmère's place.

Uncle Chico is the second last uncle in the family and one known for his pizazz. He's like a walking zeitgeist and had the coolest stuff that were in trend at that point. Like his sunny yellow Dick Tracy full-sized towel which he hung behind his door. I never understood why would one hang a towel for display purposes and everytime I showered at Grandmère's when I was little, I'd point up to that towel and go, "That one, Mummy, pleeeeeeease??"

Damn you, Dick Tracy.

He would be the one with the Armani metal-framed rectangular glasses that would make him look so damn Mat Smart and the one who's jet-black loafers were so shiny I'd always peek into it to get a glimpse of my reflection. He's the one who painstakingly cleans out his aquarium --I call it the Mini Barrier Reef-- twice a week and drives that wicked snow-white Mitsubishi Lancer like as though he was still an unmarried man.

And he's also my favorite uncle. He was constantly harrassed by me during his bachelor days and he'd so obliged everytime I craved for a day at Parkway Parade's Funworld. I was his third wheel on dates with his previous girlfriends. They had to like me. If I didn't like them, out they went. And because he was a Renaissance man, he'd drink milk out of the carton and so would I. It's totally disgusting, I know. I hold my uncle solely responsible for my actions.

But the best part about my uncle are his housetrained skills. He is like the Nick Lachey of our family --minus the ex-is-tuna-chicken?? bimbo-- and I was reminded again of them when I went upstairs and spotted him ironing his peach-colored baju kurung. I can say that the way my uncle irons his clothes is even way more anal than Mom does for my Dad. And I thought Mom was bad enough with all the perfect lines and stuff. But Uncle Chico's lines are even more pronounced than Mom's.

I should've taken a picture of how he slowly irons his shirt with loads of water and each press is done with measured pressure.

Hah, actually all my uncles are housetrained because Grandmère staunchly believed that her boys should not grow up to be MCPs and restrain themselves from becoming too dependent on their wives to cater to their every little need and whim. Ironing isn't only the only task that all my uncles are capable of handling around the house. And of course, none of my family members on this side require any hired help. Even the uncles with working wives.

As I observed my uncle and his domestic skills, I thought to myself, this is probably half the epitome of what a man should be. The other half, well...next time, next topic.

Sorry to say, but I think the in-laws got the better end of the stick.

On that note, anywazoo, contrary to what I had expected, Raya is turning out better.

Maybe it's because of that Lenny Gives Back movement.

Laterz...
Lenny