A Reminiscence - Friend for Life

My friend,

Before i proceed any further in this post, i would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy belated birthday. I pray that you'll continue to walk in the wisdom of God and may He bless and grant you success in all your endeavors in life.


My friend, how long has it been that we've known each other ? It's been a long long time, far too long for me to recall back. I believe the first time we met was back in Grade 2 or 3 in Metropolitan Tuition Centre ( METS ). Hahaha... oh yes, i could still remember we were with Kim, Wen Hui, Jason and Jia Wen together in a class. Couldn't really remember if i fought with you ( i believed i did ) but i am sure Jason and I had fought and pinched each other a lot of times due to eh..herm... 'territorial' problem on our table.. haha..

Then, i believe we stayed in the same class for quite a while until Grade 6 or Sec 1 when you left. The odds of us meeting were pretty much close to nil ( of course, at that time i didn't even know we live in the same neighbourhood LOL ). But i guess as fate would have it, we ran into each other coincidentally once more in the Boys' Brigade where we served for another 6 years. We joined camps, ran programs and participated in all kinds of activities and those were the pinnacle of my teenage years. Reminiscing back now, i couldn't help but to smile at our ALMOST carefree life and innocence. =)

*YOU owe me a new mp3 -_-".. but since mp3s are no longer popular, i don't mind you buying an iPhone for me. He he.

And then in 2009, you bade First Sibu Company good bye, a few weeks earlier than me ( i didn't know that ) because you were offered a JPA scholarship. Again, i thought we will not see each other anymore. To be truthful, i felt very heavy-laden and sad to see you leave. I was curious whether we'll meet again in the near future. I guess, after all this while, i was still reluctant to let go of a friend whom i've been accustomed to for so long. But, I think the most beautiful thing is that we're not parting because there were problems. We're parting because we're celebrating each others' growth... so, again, after 11 years, we parted again each in search of our path in life...

I think the most beautiful thing is that we're not parting because there were problems. We're parting because we're celebrating each others' growth.

However, with odds close to none, once again i met you in INTEC... i really couldn't believe my eyes and mind when i first saw you... it's really awesome and praised the Lord for the chance of meeting you somewhere so unexpected when i believed there was no hope ever again... Like what Albert Einstein said, coincidence is truly God remaining anonymous. Looking back i am really impressed by how things turned out each time when i thought we will not be seeing each other anymore in life. Perhaps it is a way of God reminding me that nothing is the end of everything.

And now... Entering the last 6 months for you and 11 months for me in INTEC, your birthday this year may be the last year we'll be celebrating your birthday together, and perhaps for a lifetime. Soon, we'll be parting on our own ways again... you going to the Land of the Rising Sun, and i to the United Kingdom where we'll be worlds apart... once again the fear of parting came haunting me once more...

I appreciate our very moments together in INTEC more and more as we approach the Day. I guess, the feeling of wanting to leave a lasting legacy and memories of you imprinted in my mind was so strong that out of so many other friends out there, i chose to cram into your room... thinking now, i think it was very selfish of me and i hope i did not cause you too much inconvenience..

As i linger my thoughts about the parting of ways, i came to the thoughts below...

All farewells should be sudden, when forever, Else they make an eternity of moments, And clog the last sad sands of life with tears. True friendship is like sound health, its true value is seldom appreciated until lost. I am glad to discover true friendship and its value right here, right now. Having discover the value of friendship, i hope i'll never be so much a fool as to take them for granted and not appreciating them fully to the best of my ability.

Friend,

a part of you has grown in me, and so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in a distance but never in heart.

Together forever, never apart; maybe at distance, but never at heart

Now i know how fortunate and lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to. Never complain that your friends are not doing enough for you; they gave you the world when they gave you their love. In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. I am thankful for the people who rekindle the inner spirit of mine, such as you. =)

My words to you,

When I remember you, it means that i have carried something of who you are with me, that you have left some mark of who you are on who i am. It means that i can summon you back to my mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that even after you leave, i can still see your face and hear your voice and speak to you in my heart. For as long as i remember you, you am not entirely lost. When i'm feeling most ghost-like, it is our memories together that helps remind me that i actually exist. When i'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When i'm feeling happy, it's part of why i feel that way, the part where i have the chance of knowing and that is all that i can ask for. Thank you for giving me the chance to experience friendship.

Thank you for giving me the chance to experience friendship. You gave me more than i could ever hope for

There is no distance too far between friends, for friendship gives wings to the heart. Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.

Some people come into our lives and leave as quickly as they came, some stayed for a while and leave footprints in our hearts, but we are never ever the same.

Reminiscing back now, life is beautiful, and it's because of your presence in it =)

I don't know who or how you regard me as, but one thing is for certain, you've not just an ordinary person to me, you're more than just a best friend in life, above all, you're my brother and i love you very much ^^

So happy birthday and God bless you