Feb

I’m Not Old…Just Older (Volume I)

It’s been 28 years since I’ve been on this planet. I look back on the spotlights of my life with a revitalized sense of sanguineness that my future will be as memorable. The defining years of my life are 1986, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2001 and 2004. I have made it my personal goal to inspire further defining moments - so the process will help me to evolve into a person I wanna be.

1986 - The Metamorphosis
The year that metamorphosed me from a 9 year old into a grownup. I instantly senesced the day my dad give-uped the ghost on 2nd October. I watched my mom and kid brother grieving over our loss and it struck me - I am the man of the family now, though I’m still 3 years away from adolescence. I knew what I had to do, and what needs to be done. Quite a few adults always seem to be bemused by my sense of maturity - a little bambino like me. A defining moment.

As pollyannaish as I am, I feel we all NEED sad moments, to remind us of who we are, and to keep us earthed. We shouldn’t let time tick away without perpetually telling our loved ones how much they mean to us.

1989 - The world was my oyster
My primary school in KL (SRK Jalan Kuantan, off Jalan Titiwangsa KUALA LUMPUR), I had my first acting stint as the teacher, Jeremy Brown in MIND YOUR LANGUAGE, also joined Dikir Barat and lead the sports school team out (march-past) on the field for the Keramat District games (I was the flagbearer and the “shouter” - I think it’s called QUARTERMASTER, but I’m unsure) - and I ran the 4×100m for the school games but my team only finished fourth (I was the 3rd runner, and we were leading then, but the final runner had a leg spasm some 10 metres to the finish line).

It is also the year I became rather influenced towards Malay songs (especially Gersang & Search) - primarily due to the consequences of involuntary listening to the radio while taking the minibus no 41 back from school after games. I used to live in Sri Gombak. Had a number of really great Malay friends - there were no polarization back then either. I was also a school prefect at that time, and on Fridays, we use to play games like Konda Kondi, Galah Panjang, Keretapi, Guli, Icecream Sticks, Playing Cards, Monopoly - my class was the most bounciest of the bunch. Great times. *PONDERS*

1991 - The Spiritual Sojourn - It’s the year that I…
This was the year that I actively linked up with fellow Catholics in church activities. It was really fun to have a sense of belonging.
It’s the year that I - formally joined the caroling group,
It’s the year that I - became an altar-boy serving for mass,
It’s the year that I - had my first crush, with someone who’s 2 years senior to me (she was in a Santa Rina costume at that time and it had me flabbergasted),
It’s the year that I - started playing football like there’s no tomorrow,
It’s the year that I - gave up my position as a class monitor (in 1990 - Form 1 going on Form 2) to continue my prankish hobbies in school,
It’s the year that I - started wearing glasses.

1997, 2001, 2004 >> to be continued…

I’m Not Old…Just Older (Volume II)

“I like the bed I’m sleeping in,
It’s just like me, it’s broken in,
It’s not old — just older
Like a favorite pair of torn blue jeans,
This skin I’m in it’s alright with me,
It’s not old — just older ” - Bon Jovi - Just Older (Crush, 2000)