by Trailerman Sam (tapessam@gmail.com)
Some 30 years ago, each time when December comes it would put me on Cloud Nine. What’s more, it was a terrific time as I happened to be running a pub then. I had always loved pub life, even before I was old enough to drink.
Yes, living the pub life was being in a drinking haven for drinkers of all sizes and kinds of mannerisms, and with darters thrown in. They’d come readily by 8pm eight days a week (the eighth day symbolised those jolly good fellows who never missed a single night at the watering hole!).
With Christmas Eve, Christmas Day itself, and as the celebrations stretched to New Year’s Eve, and somehow even extending to the Lunar New Year, the big frothing of pints starts earnestly from Dec 1, give and take a day or two.
There’d be continuous pulling of the cool liquid from the beer fonts as the golden stuff would come from a pressurised keg or cask. And when things get jollier or the going gets tough, the tough among them would skyrocket to stronger stuff – usually with a good 12- year-old bottle of scotch; sometimes they’d prefer gin or even vodka.
Ask any owner of a joint if this is not something to celebrate, what else could it be? For me, it was always worth the long nights at the pub. Most times, it could even be one too big a long night with no end in sight.
Did I have that kind of muscle, energy and enthusiasm to operate such a public drinking house then? Of course! I’d often make sure that there was enough juice all round to make the patrons happy as I had zero time- or financial-based obligations — girlfriends, family, kids or debts.
Come December I was usually the happiest for my objective was simple: to make the pub the most fabulous hub for the people in the town once I lived. And I succeeded!
December was key in making sure that sales target of the pub would be met, especially if the other months had slackened off slightly. Once you’ve mastered the trick to pull it off during the happy month of December, it was always one of the most pleasurable moments in the pub. Why so? The total sales of the month would reaffirm that all those long nights of December were worth every minute after all!
Fast forward to the current time and with 2025 approaching, I often reminisce about the jolly times of Decembers of the past. There’d always be merry-making, the odd and outrageous occurrences affecting some people in the pub and many things that should be best left unsaid for fear of unlocking many skeletons in the closet.
Those are the bygone days. Now that I’m living alone, I have to face the agony and comfort of my existence. From the weariness of my present surroundings to having the occasional bad thoughts and sometimes leaping to feeling optimistic no matter what my daily challenges would be.
Maybe I do feel more optimistic; like telling myself that I should avoid bringing torments into the new year. And that I should possess more positivity in December so that more good vibes may come in the new year.
Like telling myself to switch off from thinking that I could be in pain, physically or mentally, while having the ability to welcome December means that I’ve lived through another beautiful year as an old man!
For me, there’s no need for a colourful celebration when the new year comes around as it’s always a life of rainbows popping out from my reading habit or sipping cups of espresso coffee.
But topping my list would be my passion for writing. All that writing therapy turns the sky into a glorious day for deep in my soul I know there might not be a promised tomorrow. But my motto will be: as long as I’m glad that I’m alive today, I’m happy!
Mostly smiling, laughing and giving a bit of caring for the people I do care about amidst a little bit of sweating over the tiny bits and bobs of life.
Counting back on the last 10 Decembers that had passed, I reckon that life for me has slowed down, especially my reflexes and mobility. No denying that this does have some impact on my living and encountering challenging days.
But then, having the freedom and choice of whether to cook a proper lunch or just downing a bowl of instant ramen noodle is still there. So, in that department, I have no worries but am just thoroughly happy to have that choice.
Living alone as a senior citizen could also be exhilarating. I tell you why: the best part is there’s nothing more to prove or dress up to impress someone.
Even if the next December could be more cruel to make my life more intense, I would just close an eye and sing “Que sera, sera” – what will be, will be.
The young-at-heart may find December as a month full of zest and life. As someone who has gained a lot of experience and some wisdom in my life, those who are still wet behind their ears should value each December as a very important time to map out plans for the next 365 days and try to avoid follies that could derail our best laid-out plans.
It’s the best time of the year and so start making those plans. As for me in Lunas, Kedah, I wish everyone from the very depths of my heart — cheers to a great new year!