SSP76 50th Birthday Celebration (II) Part 7: The Morning After

A surprise breakfast invitation from Tan Ban Hua to sample local delights came to me and Fei Fung who had put up a night at Pontian Hotel as we glumly partook the breakfast included.

Teresa, Sam, Ban Hua plus the two of us drove past the reclaimed waterfront of Pontian town in the cheery morning sun. In the confinement of the tiny car I marveled at the vastness of the sea for the millionth times. Perhaps even more amazing was the fact that the spirit of SSP76 reunion had made it possible for five previously unfamiliar persons to enjoy an outing together. Our destination was Chin Sik Fong’s house at Taman Mewah.

Pontian Town has changed drastically since our school days. It looks like another typical Malaysian new town with blocks of new shops and brightly coloured government office buildings bustling with local inhabitants’ daily activities. In contrast, the old stilt houses on both sides of the Pontian bridge look out of place in the way they huddled together in disarray as if terrified of impending danger of ceasing to be the last remnants of the past. It occurred to me that the object of my reflection has something to do with the passing of our youth, having just celebrated our 50th birthday the night before. That seemed to me a lamentable fact at that moment.

We had breakfast in a neighborhood coffee shop in the open air. Sunlight filtered through foliage as we sipped fragrant local coffee. I looked from one changed face of my old school mates to another around me and couldn’t help marveling again this precious moment of reunion after three decades of separation, each having trodden down a different path. Yeo Ah Yong, who surprised me the evening before with kind words about my writings in SSP76 websites seemed like a friend rather than someone I had known mainly by sight in the past. A kind word is always remembered (I am getting into the habit of quoting Lee Song Kiah unconsciously). Likewise for Chin Sik Fong, Ho Siew Fong and Goh Yong Khiaw. Also present was Ling Liang Yin whom I was better acquainted with in our sixth forms. Conversations drifted from terrifying experiences of punishment by teachers like Mr. Rabindran and Mr. Seet and subsequent mischievous retaliation in response to comments on the reunion dinner experience. Almost all concurred in their satisfaction with the celebration in that the objective of reunion has been achieved in a pleasant and joyous atmosphere.

I sampled Pontian wanton noodle and expressed satisfaction, finding it comparable to the same sold in outlets set up by Low Cher Fei’s family while eying the plump red bean paos a few others were tasting. Outwardly this seemed to be just another casual and non-consequential breakfast with some friends but inwardly, I felt disproportionate honour and joy about the togetherness which was by no mean a chanced encounter. Rather, it symbolizes how much friendship is valued through our effort to meet up. For one whose sensitivity to the commonly occurring such as the rustling of leaves, the sun’s rays and other natural phenomena never lessens through familiarity, I treasure the moment of togetherness all the more.

In a flash of clarity, l realized that the passing of our youth need not be a source of chagrin so long as its memory is used as a basis for the renewal of lasting friendship. This I am certain will surely enrich the rest of our lives.