F.I.L

Emily’s father - my father in law - is a very nice guy. I am a very nice guy too. But … i don’t know why, I don’t seem to be able to get along with him. Theoretically, we’re both nice guys … and getting along should be an easy matter.

Everytime I went back to Emily’s hometown to meet her father, our conversation would just be limited to 3 topics - each would be sub-limited to only 1 or 2 sentences. 3 the most.

1) standard greetings
2) work schedule
3) weather report

Let me walk through a typical conversation situation between me and him.

F.I.L : “Hey mike. Just arrived ?”
[this is his trademark standard greeting]

Me : “yeah.. just arrived. Traffic jam.”
[this is my trademark reply]

F.I.L : “Not working today ?”
[apparently, he had an impression that i'm a busy guy]

Me : “No. I only work till Friday. Usually off on Saturday”
[I have been telling him the same thing for the past few years]

F.I.L : “Oh .. work only 5 days a week ?”
[he acknowledge that fact .. but he will ask again if we meet in future]

Me : “yeah… I don’t work on weekends”
[again... my trademark reply]

This will be followed by an approximate 20 second pause - out of topic. I will then make a futile attempt to re-live the whole conversation

Me : “Hot weather… not much rain lately ?”

F.I.L : “Yeah. How bout Penang ?”

Me : “Just occasionally. It’s also hot there”

And that weather report marks the end of our conversation. It’s pathetic I know. And this has been the same for the past few years. I just do not know how to chat with him like the rest of my buddies. Maybe I’m not that good with old people.

Last night when I went back to Emily’s hometown (for Jade Emperor festival celebration), marked the very first time we did not use the same boring and pathetic routine of conversation anymore. Instead of giving me the usual standard greeting, he just greeted me with a smile … and said “welcome home”.

And I know, the problem is with me. Maybe I’m not that nice after all. Maybe I should try how to get myself used to talking with old people … because I am turning old myself. *cough cough*