Staying Happily Together-Part 2

This is the second part of the award winning speech by CC Tan Soo Guan at the 2009 Toastmasters Division 'C' Humor Contest.


‘O” - other people’s money.

When we just got married, when love was blind, everything was about sharing. I still remember her saying this “Darling, your money is my money and my money is also your money.”

I cannot explain what happen next but I suppose this is a natural phenomenon that evolved over time. After a while, she said “Your money is my money and my money is also my money!”

OK, I can argue with her, fight with her or explain it but I have a big heart. So I said “Sure my Darling you can have all my money and you can also have all my debt!

What do I do next? Create more debts!

It did not take her long to come back and say, “Your money is your money and your debt is also your debt.” “My money is my money and don’t touch my money, er!”

I never face money issues after that.

D- Don’t be predictable.

During my father’s times, he has only to worry how to put food on the table. Nowadays we have to worry about mother’s day, father’s day, Valentine’s Day, birthday’s days, wedding anniversary, registration anniversary, first meeting anniversary, and first kiss anniversary and so on.

You see, women basically set up these dates as markers just to get constant reminders that their men love them.

Ladies, just ask any men here and they will tell you the same thing. Men don’t love their women only certain days of the year; we love you every day of the year!

So, why do you need to set up these markers like bobby traps and whenever we miss one of these dates, ka-boom, we are dead.

Lucky for me, when love was still blind and everything is forgivable. I already planned never to celebrate any special occasions on the exact date but always a few days earlier a few days later. After a while, weeks, than months, just to be unpredictable.

Have more celebrations initially to confuse them as to which celebration that was for. Later, to save money, you can slowly reduce the number of celebrations but they will still be confused whether they have celebrated it this year or were it last year. Or was that celebration done the year before?

Finally once you broken down all these markers, dates are irrelevant.

If you are confused with what I am saying, than I know this plan will work well for you.

Follow Toastmasters and guest, when two adult of different background stays together, there is bound to be conflict. But as long as we religiously follow GOD, G-O-D, I believe that more people will be staying happily together.

Before I leave the stage, I would like to clarify to all the male audience here. Guys please don’t misunderstand me. I am not afraid of my wife.OK! My only problem is my wife is not afraid of me.

Back to Mr. Toastmaster.

Award Winning 2009 Toastmasters Division 'C' Humor Speech-Part 1

We managed to persuade CC Tan Soo Guan to part with his 1st Runner's Up speech at the 2009 Toastmaster Division 'C' Humor and Evaluation Contest to share with all of us. Enjoy!

Staying Happily Together – 2009 Division 'C' Contest, Segi College, Subang Jaya, Malaysia

I know Apa Rao from my first job. Whenever I see him, I would greet him like this, “Hey, Rao! How is life?” And he would reply, “Tan, What is life without a wife?"

Soon, we both move on with our careers and lost touch. One day I meet him at Sungai Wang Plaza and I exclaimed, “Hey Rao! I understand that you are married, congratulations! How is life?” He replies, “Aiyoo! Tan, what is life with such a wife?”

For those of you who laugh the loudest; I understand how you feel. It is like when you are single, your life is really miserable and after you are married, you wish you are dead.

Fellow Toastmasters and guests, tonight, based on my 16 years of married life, I am going to share with you 3 simple ways on how to stay happily together with your spouse.
All marriages are made in heaven, so to stay happily together, we must remember GOD. G-O-D.

G- Give and Take
In any good marriage there must be a give and take attitude. Example, when I find my wife feels strongly on certain issues, I will let her give all her views. I will just stand and take it. I will take it all if I must! She gives and I take!

Of cause, don’t get me wrong, I don’t take all the time. I also give. This is when it concern money. I give and she takes. When I give her more she takes more. Ah! Now I am smarter. I only give a little bit and the balance I keep it in my pocket.

Ever since both of us joined Toastmasters Club, I was trying to convince her to follow the Tabletopics rules whenever we need to discuss issues. She will have her say for 2 minutes. Ring. Then my turn for the next 2 minutes. Ring. Then her turn. Now, pause fillers like sob, sob, ahh, ahh will be included into the 2 minutes.

This way we can truly focus on the issues and not talk about the past, her mother-in-law and everything else but the real issue.

Of cause in reality things don’t work out as planned. When it is her turn, she will think she is giving her advance speech and speak non-stop for the next one hour! I am still trying to work it out.

Continue Part 2 tomorrow