A watch can tell much more than time

Today I went to buy a watch for the Old Bean to surprise him when I reach Melbourne.

The dates which I am travelling to Australia coincide with his...hmm, 66th birthday. Gosh. 66 years old!

I bought a watch from Guess - nothing expensive, cost me around $150. It looks classic with roman numerals, face is cream in colour and it wasn't too big. The leather strap is beautiful and the numbers weren't too small for the long-sighted old man he is.

I liked it right away when I set my eyes on it and I knew that it suited him. So within 10 minutes of browsing around, I purchased the watch immediately.

And then I realised...

How simplicity brings about so much contentment.

For once, I do not have to crack my brains so hard to buy something for someone.

For once, I bought something I liked without having to consider whether he or she liked it too or whether it suited her style or taste, because I know that the Old Bean will love it - he loves anything I give him. So does mom.

For once, I could buy something without having to consider the "face value" behind it - whether it was "expensive" enough for that person and hoping it wasn't "too cheap".

For once, I realised how simple some things could be and the joy it brings me...and how I actually miss the simple life.

I've held many types of jobs since I was 16. From waitressing to retail and even to a checkout chick at Coles, I have always strived to earn my own pocket money. Now too, come to think of it.

I know of many people who do not need to have part-time jobs at all but do so willingly because they want to be responsible for their own money and not having to ask the family for it.

As for me, I have no choice.

My family is not rich. We went from middle-class to slightly below middle-class in monetary terms. Giving me $50 a week during tertiary was quite a struggle, especially so if I asked for more.

So I balanced full-time studies with two part-time jobs to try and ease my dad's burden during uni. But I was ultimately helpless at that time and it frustrated me very much, especially during a time when uni grads still don't quite know how to sort out their career paths.

I've seen both my parents struggle financially - mom trying to maintain a mortgage on top of bringing up two children singlehandedly and dad coping with the stress of losing his business, house, family and friends (who at that age have started to pass away one by one). Thank goodness for the pension scheme in Australia.

I saw their difficulties, their pain and also their struggle. And now that I have a stable job, I too, understand how difficult it can be, and I'm already earning much more than they ever did in their entire lifetime.

But despite the nagging worry which also bugs me every month or so, it's the simple things that warm my heart greatly, such as the six hour drive I took with dad to Canberra, the smile of anticipation I saw on my mom's face when she unwrapped my present and the lame jokes my brother cracks from time to time.

It's all these moments which no amount of money can buy, which I deem much, much more important than being rich, more important than buying that Bottega bag I've been eyeing, more important than buying "face value" presents, more important than whether the recipient likes my present or not...

Just a simple $150 watch can teach so much and it taught me that...

The wealth of a person is not measured by the zeros in his bank account, but by the number of loved ones he has by his side.

You can buy me something expensive, but I will never treasure it as much as I treasure the times I have with you.

I had an ex many years ago, who once commented: "Why your family so poor one?" (You see why she's now my EX)

I've got plenty of loved ones by my side who cherish and love me for who I am and how I am. If I were to count them, I'd have to use two hands.

See? I'm definitely bloody richer than you are.