When fRiends suddenly appear

When friends suddenly appear
It’s always a surprise oh dear

One type you hug, and hug
And won’t let go
The one though absent for years
But that seems a short while ago

The other type you extend a reluctant hand
Cos he’s ne’er on one’s radar screen
So one’s gut reaction he’s here for a purpose
Led here by a motive felt though unseen

Yesterday one long lost friend did appear
We hugged, and hugged repeating “Oh dear”
His first words were “Hey, you’ve put on weight”
Yeah-lah, makan-makan is our daily swear
To save us from all sorts of wear and tear
E’en during hard times, food is everywhere

I like friends like David Y. always with happy mien
Though the weather be unkind
We take things with a philosophic bent
O’er Ssatay and tehtarik we unwind

The old hawker’s centre we used to adjourn to is no more
Making way for higher concrete structures is the trend
But we seek out the old Ssatay stall whose old man’s sore
Only he and ageing wife are left to mend the store

We chuckle when we remember
Frequenting His Ssatay served by his sweet daughters will
It's clearly our sweet September
The one David fancied, and me, the sis I can still ...

But the children have all fled the nests you see
One became a succesful businessperson, the other daughter a doctor to be
So David and I are happy to see there’s progress
A new generation of professionals, sure sign of success

So when I get another surprise from a long lost face
Let it be accompanied by hugs and feelings amaze’
Yes, we all put on new weight
That’s good, rid of old baggage

I don’t wish to see the other type of visitor though
Who comes with a wide smile so bereft of the glow
You straight know with an "invite" it’s just a make-show
His son’s getting married, but his name I don’t even know

So I’d rather hug David and his daughter who calls me Uncle
Though our last meet has been umpteenth years
Yes, we all once sang songs of Art&Garfunkle
Sound of Silence and other refrains that bring laughing tears

Ne’er mind, old chap, it’s a pleasant surprise
We’ll meet tomorrow again, same time, diff place
Today’s it’s my treat, tomorrow’s is yours
But the real treat is seeing EachOther’s familiar face


With passing time, inevitably changes take place. By demands of occupational hazards and calls of faraway hills, some Malaysians move to foreign lands. We settle down in unfamiliar places at first, but with passing times, the unfamiliar becomes like friends. So like mayhaps in our forefathers' adventurous times, it's a trend, differeent times, the same trend.

But there’s one constant I treasure. Some people don’t change at heart – it’s the inbuilt personality, the constancy of character. We feel it in the constancy of a sincere handshake, less firm no doubt, but still as assuring as twenty years ago. Davis and I, it seems just like only months ago.

I hope each of my EsteemedReaders has some real good mates whom you know you’ll treasure like gold. I’ve LOST a few to other countries like Oz, NZ and the US of A – it breaks the heart on saying our goodbyes. But I see these folks resding 5,000km off Malaysian shores more often than some former “classmates” just staying some 50km away onshore.

It’s not the physical distance that matters in bondship.
It’s a matter of the heart.
When you have the heart, you’ll overcome all obstacles to meet your friend. Over hills, dividing seas and rugged land.
Yesterday, I was glad to see one such, long lost fRiend.

But there are some you frankly don’t wish to meet again. These are the creatures who appear at your front door when he wanted an urgent task or favour only you could perform. After the performance, he would disappear,without sparing time for even a drink in a buddy fashion at the tehtarik stall. You are just a number hhe could count on to use, like his gold-plated handphone with a storage of similar numbers. Your number does not feature in his heart. Hardcore&Hardened. The Heart, I mean.

So when you don’t have the heart, it does not matter that this guy lives in the next town.
He might just as well a stranger be, or merely a clown.

Yes, I do. I treat some of these people who were former classmates as clowns.


DESIDERATA's NEW CHALLENGIA: Why spell Ssatay with two bloody asses?
MEATY PRIZE: Two sticks of the best steak Ssatay in town. No, Oliver, Olivia, Olivetti, you can't ask for more!