of milestones and pearl necklaces

Years of Enid Blyton and Anne of Green Gables and Little Women and Eight Cousin and all those yummy classics have made me a tad more sentimental.
Certain things were given to me at certain milestones in life and they meant the world to me.

When I was 17 going on 18 and about to venture overseas for the first time in my life, mum got me my first ever branded bag from Guess. It was a versatile black leather one. To me, it was like marking the beginning of my passage to adulthood and how I have to learn to be independant and take care of myself. Til this very day, it's my favourite bag and it will always be.

And on that very year too, I got my very first cheongsam from my parents and I was supposed to wear it for my Trinity valecdictory but stupid me gave in to peer pressure and wore a boring black suit instead. lols. To me, it just reminded me that no matter how far I go and how much I learn, I am first and foremost, a Chinese and a Chinese daughter to Chinese parents, no less. 'Nuff said.

And when I got into 1st year Med, I got myself a tattoo on my ankle. A nautical star in blue. A new direction in life. The first step into something that I could never back up of. And my parents gave me their blessings. In fact, mum went with me to get the ink done.

And when I turn 21, my parents gave me the traditional key pendant on a necklace that is my favourite jewellery to date. And the thing that meant the most to me was how my usually-frugal dad chose the necklace with my mum and gladly forked out the money for such an extravagant small little necklace. When I have a daughter of my own, I'm thinking of giving the very necklace to her. It'll be a heirloom of sorts. And I can save on a diamond necklace. lols.

And I got my early birthday present from mum. Finally, a matchy matchy wallet with her. After all that I've gone through, she has done it all with me without any complaints and has supported me every single time. So the wallet is like this invisible bond that I have with her.

And when I graduate, my parents will get me my first pen. It'll be the pen that I will start my internship with. The pen that I will sign my name as a doctor and write my first prescription and scrawl unintelligible doctor's notes. And that pen will be in my right shirt pocket til the very end. And they will get me a pearl necklace. I've adamantly refused to let mum get me one or get myself one, because I want it on my graduation day. I always did associate pearl necklaces with being grown-up and having all sorts of ladylike qualities eg graciousness, gentility, humility, charity etc. Must be all that classics that I've read. All my favourite heroines in those books had a pearl necklace given to them after conquering their flaws, facing trials and tribulations and became wonderful, honest women of the world. The pearl necklace will simply remind me of all the expectations of my family and mine too.

I think I've led a vey comfortable life so far, want of nothing. That's why I have all these little things given to me, to remind me of those important events. But at the end of the day, my parents can give me the cheapest plastic pearl necklace from those funfairs and I wouldn't care, because to me, cliched as it might sound, it's the thoughts and memories invoked that counts.