Moving on...
It was crazy. I expected it. But that doesn’t change anything. It felt like being thrown out of my “routine” life to experience a non-stop roller coaster year. In a nutshell (2006); I went into the Army, got transferred to the Police, missed out on OCS to become an Officer, became an OCT and graduated as an Inspector, went from 0 to 8 pull ups but missed out on a gold for IPPT, lost about 8 kg (put some/most of it back on too), got my A-level results, did not get into the local university to study medicine, aborted going to the U.K to do the same, found other options in Malaysia and Australia, got inspired to ride a motorbike and got my licence.
I achieved some of my goals, missed out on others but what I did not prepare for is what shaped 2006 for me. It was revolutionary as I parted with some of my old friends, made a record number of new friends in a year and subsequently parted with them too. If my friends were “Serangoon Road”, 2006 was a “Sunday”. Point being, a lot happened. And interestingly, whether it was parting with a 10-month-old friend or a 10-year-old friend, it was just as difficult. A bunch of them went overseas for further studies. On the other hand, 43 others like me were stuck together for the duration of our OCT course. And if you thought 9 weeks in BMT was a time to bond, try 10 months. After a while we dreaded living with each other, hated each other’s face and couldn’t wait to get out of there. But when the time finally came, a sense of nostalgia overcame us. I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun. The 10 months I spent there were pure entertainment. (Apart from the 13 exams we had to sit for and a lot of the “sai-kang” we had to do) Simply because we had the craziest, coolest, lamest, funniest, laziest, uncivilized, most patient, diligent, chilled out, cunning, daring people I have ever met, living together. It was wild. As we reminisced at our last dinner together, we laughed, and some still had one last prank left in them but each of us knew, deep down inside, this was it. It was time to move on.
As the year came to an end and as I went to farewell parities and the airport, time and again, to see my friends off; or simply caught up with my old mates over lunch, there was a common sense of loss. There is a lot I take with me, but there are some things that just won’t be there anymore. My friends from my childhood, junior college or national service are all eternal. Only because time is limited and life is a certain, I am writing this entry. After all, having just turned 20, I am going through my ¼ life crisis, so please forgive me if I have stopped making sense.
I achieved some of my goals, missed out on others but what I did not prepare for is what shaped 2006 for me. It was revolutionary as I parted with some of my old friends, made a record number of new friends in a year and subsequently parted with them too. If my friends were “Serangoon Road”, 2006 was a “Sunday”. Point being, a lot happened. And interestingly, whether it was parting with a 10-month-old friend or a 10-year-old friend, it was just as difficult. A bunch of them went overseas for further studies. On the other hand, 43 others like me were stuck together for the duration of our OCT course. And if you thought 9 weeks in BMT was a time to bond, try 10 months. After a while we dreaded living with each other, hated each other’s face and couldn’t wait to get out of there. But when the time finally came, a sense of nostalgia overcame us. I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun. The 10 months I spent there were pure entertainment. (Apart from the 13 exams we had to sit for and a lot of the “sai-kang” we had to do) Simply because we had the craziest, coolest, lamest, funniest, laziest, uncivilized, most patient, diligent, chilled out, cunning, daring people I have ever met, living together. It was wild. As we reminisced at our last dinner together, we laughed, and some still had one last prank left in them but each of us knew, deep down inside, this was it. It was time to move on.
As the year came to an end and as I went to farewell parities and the airport, time and again, to see my friends off; or simply caught up with my old mates over lunch, there was a common sense of loss. There is a lot I take with me, but there are some things that just won’t be there anymore. My friends from my childhood, junior college or national service are all eternal. Only because time is limited and life is a certain, I am writing this entry. After all, having just turned 20, I am going through my ¼ life crisis, so please forgive me if I have stopped making sense.
“Flames to dust, lovers to friends, why do all good things come to an end?”
A picture tribute to a very special friend of mine, Sean
IT support by Sudhanshu Biyani
2 comments:
(before i start, any ugly pictures of me is the fault of the camera, for i am beautiful IRL)
Yes, its been an incredulous 10 mths in police, meeting all the strange and awesome peeps.. but what made it stupendous was that Chirag was around with me thru that whole journey. It was thanks to his support and him listening to all my whinings when im sad, tahan-ning all my pranks and playfulness, and loads of other unimaginable stuff that made this such a great jouney. For once, i am at a loss of words, for this simple effort has moved me to tears. It was great while it lasted in police, but dude who says it all has to end? =]
My Thanks to this wonderful friend of mine. Sincerely and Truely.
- Sean
p.s. Rock on black dawg!
p.p.s I still owe u on that lost bet ><
p.p.p.s I want a ride on ur bike
waiting for the next post...impatiently...
Post a Comment