just how do you measure a person's popularity?
in a fair election, this is decided by the number of legitimate votes. in reality talent contests, this could be determined by the number of SMS votes. if you're a blogger, the hit-counter shows & if you're dead, you could be deemed popular if there's only standing room at your wake. but if you're an average joe, like myself, who's still alive, has no political inclination & can't sing to save your own life, how would you know?
the crowd at your farewell function may not count because there will be people who can't wait to see the back of you. ditto for birthday parties because no one turns away from free food. i think a reliable indicator is the number of birthday greetings received, be it via email, sms or the near-obsolete memory lane card (this should score brownie points because you actually have to go to the shop to buy it) , provided it wasn't meant for someone else & it was received not later than a week after your birthday.
think about it, to remember a birthday you have to take the trouble to :
1) look up the date, or
2) ask for it, then
3) actually remember, or
4) record it, then
5) set the alarm if stored in your organiser or cellphone, and finally
6) say out or send out the greeting.
&, for some, like my so-called friends, that's a lot of trouble to take.
unfortunately, for most of us, as we grow older, it is likely that the numbers will dwindle (at a rate much faster than the hair loss) because people move away, have other circle of friends, forget us or have passed on. that's ok since it's a natural progression of life events. hopefully, someday when our paths fortuitously cross again, we'll carry on from where we left off the last time, like good friends should.
incidentally, yesterday was my birthday. outside of the family circle, i received a card from the new bank officer i've been dealing with lately, & a sms each from my insurance agent & 2 (yes, two!) old flames. & that's already 4 more than what i had expected.
ah, things are certainly looking up for this old geezer....
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12 comments:
Belated birthday greetings!
One year wiser, feel great huh?
You will be popular as the days roll by as more bloggers wish you, so how does it feel, to be more popular this year compared to previous years?
Most important is that wife and kids remember, right?
happy burpday!
just me,
thks. maybe 1 yr wiser, but certainly feels a few years older.
yes, it's the family that counts more than anything.
to be frank, i didnt start this blog to gain popularity, otherwise i wouldn't be anonymous. i enjoy casual writing & i still have the diaries i wrote when in secondary school & varsity.
nyonya,
thks.
happy belated birthday.
lynnx01,
thks, & to think you slept thru 13hrs of it!!
tut, tut!
What do you know now ( one year wiser) that you wished you had known 25 years ago?
Old flames huh? One day you must blog about what made you choose your present wife over the old flames.
just me,
i don't think i want to do anything different, if i have to live my life again. i'm contented.
the old flames are from the past. it's over. just some fond memories.
Hoped over via Nyonya's rumah kampung, saw your post and can't help but have to stop by and at least wish you a Happy Belated B'day. I was never popular and will never be, so hard up that during my birthday I look forward to even receiving cards from restaurants wishing me Happy Birthday and giving a 10% coupon to come back and eat there. Or from my dentist wishing me Happy Birthday and by the way your teeth cleaning is way overdue. Something lidat-lah.
firehorse,
thks for the greeting & comment.
it's certainly not the end of the world not to be popular bcos it's only a passing phase. fair-weather friends are a dime a dozen & there's no end of people looking for hand-outs.
take care.
doc, happy birthday! uah.. old flames eh, you must have made a deep impression :-)
just me, hopefully it's just "wife", and not the "present wife". hehe.
bernard,
thks for the greeting & your comment. yes, i was "quite popular" when i was younger & single. my wife knows who they are & have met them bcos they remain friends.
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