Lost and found

Guess what? It pays to be chatty!

I found my "lost" cousin when I chatted with Chang Yi yesterday. My church member and I exchanged some updates as we have been out of touch for the past few weeks. Out of nowhere the topic of a certain retired teacher turned blogger from Sibu cropped up! After a few qualifying questions I was delighted to know that this bugger blogger was indeed my cousin!

Actually my cousin is more like a friend to me. I can still remember the days when we patronized Royal Flush (the nondescript cafe @ the petrol station, junction of Oya Road/Brooke Drive) during my secondary school years. Being the senior (and working adult), my cousin was always generous in treating/subsidizing us (i.e., me and the gang) to meals. His indomitable sister was my classmate from 1979-80. Somehow through the years we lost contact after I went to work in Brunei in 1986.

I once read a heartwarming article "Too old to make new friends" by Sumiko Tan. The prolific Singaporean columnist wrote of the kinds of friendship and "friendships that die because they have simply run their course". My heart sighs at this inexplicable truth as I reflect upon how many friends and classmates I have lost contact over the past years. Hey, if you are "lost" friend of mine out there reading this now, please email me! xD

Back to my cousin.

I left a message on his blog yesterday afternoon asking for his mobile number. He responded this morning and I immediately called to say hello. When and where was the last time we met? I asked. Six, seven years ago - maybe at Bintulu or Miri airport, my cousin replied confidently. How come you can't remember? You're younger than me, he jabbed. Aha, I see he still has his sense of humour!

We agreed to meet up this early October - yes, in Sibu! This time round I won't lose keeping in touch anymore.