Friday, 21.11.2008.... definitely not one of my usual days. Invitations were passing round on this site, that the guys will be meeting up, especially with Kamarudin coming over all the way from JB. Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I told the wife that I will be rushing through dinner, and from then onto Desa Pandan. She reminded me to get home early, as we have an early morning trip the next day. Promised her for sure (phew.... thank God I remembered as I was enjoying myself so much)....
Took the time to check on the internet, the surest and nearest route to Desa Pandan..... shit, those online maps do not help at all.... worse... Google Earth only showed rooftops (grrrrrr..... technology sucks when they don't deliver what you wanted).
Anyways, took the chance and probability it will be near Kg Pandan, and took down Zakkariya's phone no. as well, just in case. Along the way, gave Zak a call, and true enough his direction led me towards Kg Pandan dalam.... and definitely could not miss it.....the "M" in mcdonalds' was shining so bright, a blind man could even see.
When I arrived, the shortest guy that I can never erase from memory, Ishak Ahmad's face was smiling and looking at me..... ha ha ha.... really miss that face. And from there, everyone else was trying my memory... and I can tell you, I failed miserably. Ishak Ibrahim's face was totally changed, Raja Shahrum's not so handsome face (especially the missing Alleycat's hair) and everyone else (whose names now I could not recall,.... sorry guys)..... really stupefy me..... I was totally lost.
But everyone made me so welcome, that those 30 years of wandering in our respective paths, and career-choice did not matter. All that matters was to catch up with classmates and schoolmates, our career and our families. The laughter over those things that had happened to us during school, some of them even had been bullies during their time, but now, friends in the truest sense. Forgiveness was not necessary..... everybody knows our young days' fights, tempers and quarrels were just part and parcel of growing process.
And with that, time flew so fast, then I nearly forgot my next morning appointment. Until I noticed the time, and I had to go off. I really felt like Cinderella..... having to go off although my heart was telling me to stay.... but I know, this is just a beginning.
A new beginning of reliving the old friendships, catching up with friends whom I recalled as good mates, and making up for lost times with friends who I did not get to know during the schooldays. And I hope and pray, that this will not be the last.... and I am sure, if all of us maintain the kind of camaraderie and respect for each other, we will be able to grow stronger, and perhaps even closer to those friends that we knew 30 years ago, but now with maturity and experience, will learn to appreciate these friends better.
I would like to end by saying "Thank you, guys" for making Friday a memorable evening, and I hope more of us will join in and make the future gatherings a more meaningful affair. As for you guys who could not make it, I implore you to make the effort. It is definitely worth it.... much more than you could ever know.
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