4E1 Turns 30!

There are several key markers as we age in life. We graduate from school, then we get married, and soon we have kids. The class of 4E1 is going to be 30 years old this year.

We took this photo at the Chinese New Year gathering at Michael Jalleh's (far right) house in Marine Parade. He was our History teacher when we were 13. He's a husband and a father, just like some of us in the picture. The teacher-student relationship we had is now laced also with empathy. We'll probably all look back to this date when we are old and incapable of remembering much, as one of times our lives met again, and then to be lived apart.

Life in school was a series of preparations. Now it's just Life. There's nothing to look forward to, except growing old together gracefully. It's bittersweet. It's also true. I guess that's why some of us are drawn to history -- that somehow moments like these won't come to pass, but are part of a larger history, a larger context. Some day, perhaps strangers will identify among us someone who had made an impact in the world whose thoughts could be traced to this moment in time, when the digital camera sent forth its flash, to receive an image of collected souls huddling at this specific point in time.

On a more personal level, gathering of old friends is always heartwarming. It feels good to know that we still mean something to each other. Yet, one is prevented from wishing that it could be the good old days again.