Saturday, January 5, 2008

Of Old Friends, New Friends And Future Friends ...

Last Friday I was at my clients head-office (a bank) and working on a backdrop project for them at their lobby. My installers were supposed to set up a welcome backdrop at their main reception area last year but some screw up happened and I ended doing it myself this year. So, there I was busily working away when suddenly I hear this voice from behind me:

'Wah Brudder, that's an excellent job you're doing there!'

I was caught a little off guard with that remark and I turned to see who it was and whether that person was being sarcastic or what! And standing there, with this huge smile on his face was an old friend and ex-colleague whom I haven't seen for close to 10 years or so.

And so, while still doing my work we got down to talking about old times and what happened to him. He's about 10 years old than I am (and you guys know how old I am) and he doesn't look a day over 20 ... damn, how do people stay young for ages. We used to work together for about 3 years and then he resigned and I never saw him since then. We sort of lost contact and the years just flew by. It was really great seeing him though cos we had such fun times when we were colleagues (And Adrian, don't you go getting any funny and dirty thoughts here, k? LOL!)

And this got me to thinking about how the times flies by without us even realizing it. I started thinking about all the friends I've known and the effect they've had in my life and how I've lost contact with ALL of them. Seriously I've lost contact with all my school going friends, my ex-office mates, everyone. The only one I've kept close contact with to this very day and are also my best buddies are Adrian & Sean. The rest of them I have no knowledge of what they're doing or where they are today.

Back then we didn't have mobile phones, email and such unlike today where it's easier to stay in touch no matter where you are on this huge planet. So once you lost contact, it was for good. I've never even met any of my school mates or ex-colleagues even by chance till last Friday, would you believe that? So, I'm kinda glad that I did meet up with this fellow, at least now we can continue keeping in touch.

And speaking on the subject of long lost friends, a good blogging friend who always had a kind word or two to say and one whom Nessa had put a post up about who went missing for quite sometime has resurfaced. And I'm glad to note that Barrett, the nice fellow in question is back and that nothing bad or anything like that happened to him. Sorry Barrett but I was thinking something bad happened to you. You know how the world can be these days. I'm sure he has his reasons for his disappearance but I'm glad he's back and I'm sure I speak for all of us who knows Barrett.

Ever since I started blogging I've made a lot of great blogging friends whom I visit on a daily basis. It's always fun reading what everyone writes about and in time you get to know them a little more with each post they write. And then sometimes when you find that they've disappeared you tend to worry a little about what happened to them, hoping that they're okay and nothing bad has happened to them. Take for instance, Seiche, a great guy who wrote excellent posts about his life in general, made an interesting read. He's gone missing for quite a while now. Even his link doesn't work. Maybe he has his reasons for quitting blogging or something but it would be nice to know if he's okay.

Then there are those who quit blogging, well, not really quit, taking a sabbatical is a better word. There's Josie who has decided to put blogging behind her and get on with the business of living as she put it. All the best Josie. Then there's AB as I call her from Anonymous Boxer who has also decided to stay away from her blog for a bit but left with words saying she'll be back. That's good to read cos she has such unique postings that I enjoyed reading. Wishing you all the best too AB! Hope you guys will be back soon cos I enjoy reading what you have to say.

You've all become good blogging friends that it's alway sad seeing or knowing that any of you would leave blogging behind. As for me, you guys are just going to have to put up with my nonsense for a long time to come cos I don't think I'll ever give up blogging, even when I'm old and gray, I'll still be pounding away on this keyboard ... LOL! So, here's hoping all you guys don't disappear on me cos I do enjoy all your blogs. Besides if you all disappeared what am I going to do with my free time at the office? LOL!

30 comments:

  1. This is a little weird cause you are the third person I've read today who has blogged about old times and bloggers who are no longer blogging. Maybe it's because the new year has started and people are rethinking their priorities. I hate it when a bloggers I enjoy suddenly stops blogging. I understand the need to get a life...but still it messes with my routine. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

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  2. Someone's getting nostalgic.. :D I know exactly what you mean too. Well, if I suddenly disappear, you've still got Syura to check with. And if we've both not here, you can check with my cousin Jiej..

    And I can always check with Nessa or Adrian if YOU suddenly stopped blogging. But you can't possibly stop blogging! You're supposed to be the grandpa that blogs, remember? LOL!

    Anyways, let's hope that everyone is fine and doing well.. and to every blogger out there, happy posting!!

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  3. That's the only down side to blogging....when the people who become part of your daily life, even if it is virtually, are suddenly no longer there for one reason or another. You get that feeling of loss and change and no-one likes that. I have often wondered what happened to Seiche and I have another blogging friend who just cut everything off real sudden. There were no signs that it could be a possibility that they were becoming disenchanted with blogging and then poof!.....Gone, just like that.

    Glad to hear that you will be blogging for a long time to come and that you caught up with an old friend.

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  4. Nick- Thank you for the kind words. I just posted about you yesterday and how much I missed reading your site. Your writing style is so fresh and it always brings a smile to my face. I am sorry for my disappearance, yes I had my reasons, life sort of got in the way of my blogging. Now I am griping about my wireless internet being extremely pokey! I think one of my neighbors is stealing it. Oh well, the "geek squad" from Best Buy are coming to secure my wireless for me Monday! I did miss blogging terribly, but I did ALOT of writing while I was gone and accomplished a goal I had set for myself several years back when I was at my rock bottom. I promised myself tht I would write a book about my experiences during that time and work to get it published. Well, it took me two and a half months, I have the manuscript now the hard part. Finding someone to publish it! You know me, I will keep trying until I get it done! I am glad to be back among my internet buddies! I have missed all of you thoroughly! Good to be back, and what a nice, warm reception. Thanks for the ongoing support and thanks for being a great friend! I will not soon forget your kindness. I hope this finds you and your family well! Take care friend!
    B~

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  5. I have an award you and your other ummm.. personality at my blog. Come and collect it when you(both) can. No need to fight for it, I have one for each of you!! LOL

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  6. Marsha - I guess a lot of people are dropping off the blogging scene unexpectedly. Maybe they do have more important priorities tan blogging and I do wish them all the luck but it sure would be nice to know if they're okay.

    Oh and I agree, it does mess up with the nice routine I've got going too ... LOL!

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  7. Shemah - When you get to my age, you get nostalgic quite a bit ... LOL! What if Syura and Jieja both vanished too, then how? LOL!

    Oh, I intend to fulfill that dream of being a blogging grandpa and judging by my age, that won't be too long ... :D

    Yeah, you can always check with both Adrian or Nessa if I suddenly upped and vanished without a word ... hehehe ...

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  8. Gypsy - It's sad really to know that some of these wonderful bloggers are just gone. Some like Josie and AB, I can understand their reasons but some like Seiche just leaves you wondering. He was a nice guy with some thought provoking posts that I enjoyed reading but one day, he just vanished ...

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  9. Hey Barrett, really good to see you commenting here again :D Congrats on completing your manuscript and I sincerely do hope you find a publisher for it soon. And when you do get it published, let me know and I'll be the first in line to buy one for myself. I'm sure it'll be good reading.

    You have a nice weekend, k?

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  10. Diamond - thanks for the award and also thank you for giving one to that insanely jealous Spiff character. You know how he is when he doesn't get the same stuff I get ... LOL!

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  11. Hi Nick,
    Guess the new year is making people thinking of the old times and becoming more nostalgic and melancholic! I am a very new blogger (less than a month actually) but I can understand what you mean about missing the fellow bloggers if they suddenly dissappear or decided to quit. I know if you suddenly stop, will miss your posting alot!! You are sort of like my inspiration at the moment ^_^.

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  12. you can't stop blogging Nick cos i hate to post an entry asking where in the world you are...LOL!

    I'm glad i got to know you too Nick!

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  13. Jen Jen - LOL, I don't think you'll miss too much if I suddenly disappeared!

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  14. Chegu Carol - Me, stop blogging? Nah, don't worry I plan to blog way into my old age and be the only blogging grandpa online bugging all the youngsters out there ... LOL!

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  15. "Besides if you all disappeared what am I going to do with my free time at the office? LOL!"
    This also applies to me :)

    Great post,

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  16. La Delirante - Oh good, I'm not the only one who blogs in my free time at the office then ... LOL!

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  17. I know I miss them when bloggers decide to give up blogging. Have you heard of Facebook? It's a social network that let's you reconnect with lots of old friends. There is nothing to download or pay for and I found lots of people I grew up with on there. You may have noticed a lot of bloggers have a badge on their blog saying they are on Facebook. If you're ever bored at work it's something you can check out.

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  18. Thanks for the update Nick! It's good to know Barrett is back, I too was wondering what happened to him. Hope u had a good weekend! :)

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  19. Tammy - Yeah I've heard of facebook, in fact my wifey is on facebook but I'm not into that. Maybe one day when I'm really bored I'll try it out ... LOL!

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  20. Marzie - No problems. I'm glad Barrett is back too. He's too nice a fellow to go missing for so long.

    Weekend was pretty good except for that Old Town White Coffee thing I bitched about in Spiff ... LOL!

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  21. awww.. you got me reminiscing about those good old days and my friends and what they are doing now..

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  22. awww that was a sweet post. In todays world we really thanks to technology got more opportunities to stay in touch with old friends though sometimes it is still complicated.
    As for blogger friends, you are 100% right, once someone gets missing you worry about them because we get no other ways to know what had happened to them besides what they write in their blogs.
    Hope everyone who took some leave from blogging or quitted it, is doing fine and knows that their blogger friends worry and care for them :)

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  23. Sting - We've all got good old days of our own don't we :)

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  24. Lena - Thank you :) Technology doesn't always work. I've tried Googling some of these 'lost' people and nothing came back. Like you said, I can only wander and hope they're all ok :D

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  25. Bud!! Me have funny and dirty thoughts!! tsk tsk tsk...LOL

    It's great to have Barrett back isn't it!! :)

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  26. Hey Nick. I guess I'm one of your missing bloggers as well. I haven't really stopped mate. I've just lost my edge. That was my thing man! The ballsy, edgy, antagonistic approach. It's kinda gone dood.

    What happened?

    I found happiness in one good woman. Maybe I've lost my edge. Maybe I've been distracted. I dunno. Whatever it is, I hope to find a reason to keep pounding the keys. Seeya in blogspace dood!

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  27. Adrian - you always have some snide nasty remark specifically reserved for me. I'm honoured though ... LOL!

    Yeah, it's good to have Barrett back :D

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  28. Hui Sen - hey, good to see you here again. Buddy, what can be better than a good woman? I don't think you've lost though, I read you latest post and it still has that ballsy, antagonistic edge to it :D

    These things happen. I know I'll probably one day hit a point where I'll run out of things to say. Hang in there and I'm sure that edge will come back in time.

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  29. Nick, I might be one of those bloggers you're missing. Well, I'm just around and peep into your site from time to time. Just got several things to look into that's why mine has never been updated. But you'll be surprised when I get back. And I know you check me out always. Thank you for that. And thanks, too for such a very good New Year greeting. In return, I wish you all the good thing s in life this year.

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  30. Albine - Good to see you here again. I was wondering what happened to you. Quite a few bloggers I know have just disappeared. I still do check all their blogs out from time to time even though they're missing.

    Hope to see you posting again soon.

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