The Girl, The ...

My Dressing Table



My Wardrobe


As a Narnian fan, it was quite an unthinkable thing for me to live without an honest-to-goodness wardrobe my whole life. And as a girl, well, it's quite a feat to say that I have survived without a proper dressing table my whole life, too.

When Rina first visited me at my house a few years ago, she nearly fainted to the fact that I didn't have a dressing table in my bedroom, or even a mirror for that matter. I'm very glad to report that her constant reminder for me to acquire one has finally been heeded. As of yesterday evening, I'm a proud owner of a proper dressing table as can be attested by the photo above.

You may be asking, why does a girl who lives in her own house (with parents) and has a big bedroom to herself get along without such an essential grooming tool all these while? And surviving on a miniscule cupboard that is bursting on the seams with her clothes? The simple answer would be: Blame her parents.

See, my parents have this idea that my stay with them would only be a temporary one and thus, invested very little on my furniture needs. My brother has a big sturdy wardrobe in his room because he is expected to stay in the house all life long (with his future family, of course).

I was totally okay with that arrangement and saw their logic. And being someone who's not bothered about having a designer bedroom, I was perfectly happy with the lack of proper furniture and having all that space to myself... until Chinese New Year came about last year and I had to face the fact that I had desperately ran out of space to store my clothes. I've overgrowned the tiny clothes wardrobe that served me well all these years. Also, my knight in shining armor has still not appeared on the horizon to sweep me off my feet - which means I'd probably be a long-term fixture in the house for quite a few more years, heh.

My mom, being traumatised by my periodic announcements about moving out, was quick to assess the situation and came up with a brilliant win-win solution.

"Your dad and I will get you a brand new 4-door wardrobe after Chinese New Year," she offered generously. Smart woman that she is, that was the time that I would have decided whether to move out or not. My practical sister supported that decision heartily, "Even if you get married and move out later on, you can bring those along with you. It won't be a waste."

Anyway, my mom kept her promise and a couple of weeks ago, we trooped into a furniture shop and made our selection. Then I saw a nice dressing table and all my girlish longings rose to the surface.

"Oooh, I want to get one of those for my room! And it'll be great if they can match the wardrobe," I said longingly. It would be a gift for myself. A very overdued one.

My parents agreed that it was a good buy and haggled over the price with the furniture shop owner.

And yesterday, my bedroom finally looks complete.

I felt close to staring at the latest additions to my bedroom the way Tom Cruise did to Renee Zellweger in Jerry Mcguire and saying, "You... complete me."

But the reflection of the happy grin on my face looking right back at me from the dressing table mirror says it all already. I'm content.