It’s 2007. Can you believe it?

 I sort-of can and sort-of can’t. In a sense, the whole talk of Christmas and New Year has prepared me for the actual arrival of 2007. But when I actually think of what 2007 means … it does take me by surprise.

It’s very strange what the New Year does to you. In actual fact, it’s just another day .. we just decided to start the Gregorian calendar on this day to make life more systematic. So what’s the big deal?

I guess it just gives us time to reflect, pause and remember where our life was and is heading to. During these times, it always gets a little sentimental. Cards from distant friends wishing you their best, random texts and messages from people you haven’t heard from in yonks… and of course, the well-wishes of everyone close to you, whether emotionally or geographically. The one thing that always surprises me each year is that random message.

It’s always from someone unexpected, every year from someone new. And it always teleports you to a time in your life you have long forgotten. This year it was from a childhood friend who went to the same primary and secondary school. Our paths had long seized to cross. We literally lost all sense of touch straight after high school – unless of course, you count Friendster. In that case, I’ve been in touch with almost everyone, haha!

Well anyway, I bumped into her at the airport when I went back in the summer. I was on my way for a holiday – and she was on her way back to uni. She was studying in Indonesia, I was studying in London. And you know how you have that awkward moment when you don’t quite know what to say? Well, that was there too. We seemed to be living in very different worlds – man, my Malay is so rusty… it sometimes takes me a whole 5 minutes to transalate a word… and here she was, studying at university level in a sunny and tropical country. (Hmm…. damn the London weather.)  Ok, bad example of how exactly different our worlds are… but if you knew the difference between Indonesia and London, I’m sure you would get my drift!

The funny thing is, once upon a time, we knew each other relatively well – and here we were, trying to figure out what you say to keep the conversation going!

I got a message from her – asking me how I was and how we never heard from each other – and probably never would have, if not for that airport encounter.

It makes me wonder…in 5 years time, will I be doing the same with someone – say, from uni ?

Happy New Year! And I hope 2007 means seeing your dreams closer to reality.