Anakku

i first met her waaaaaayyyyyyyy back in 1996.

i went to Camp Cameron (Camp Cam) during my first year uni break. It was a three-week long camp held at a cluster of chalets located very near a lake just after Ringlet, Cameron Highland.

It was a very special camp where the participants were required to stay in chalets as a 'family'. All of us were a bunch of young, clueless (i think that's me), idealistic uni students then. Each chalet had a set of 'grandpa' and 'grandma' (the FES staff), a 'papa' and a 'mama' (the participants) and the 'children' (the participants).

i was very 'honoured' to be selected as a 'mama' of Chalet 8 (actually, 'mamas' had to bear more responsibilities). So, together with my new-found 'husband', Larry, whom i didn't love, we found ourselves the 'parents' of 3 sons (Victor, James & David) and 6 daugthers (Yoke Meng, Mei Chyi, Julie, Evonne, Corrine & Ai Sing)... hope i didn't miss out anyone. i was very 'fertile' then.

My 'husband' and i had to run the household, delegating household chores, collecting money from the 'children' for special treats once in awhile, making sure light's off at 11 pm, etc... under the supervision of 'grandpa' Christopher and 'grandma' Evelyn and not forgetting 'aunt' Mary.

For three weeks we were 'stuck' together. We listened to talks after talks, studied the Word together (with members of other chalets and in our own smaller group), shared, talked, laughed together, cried together (some sessions were emotionally draining), ate together, participated in rehearsed drama and inpromptu sketch, played Captain ball every evening at the field across the winding road (we were the champion! Yes!), challenged other chalets in sports and board games, visited other chalets (showing 'neighbourliness'), had the Wednesday outings to Brinchang (our 'prison breaks'), got to know each other, got on each other's nerve, learned to settle disputes and issues, etc...

We enjoyed ourselves. At least i did!

Of all the members in my chalet, i got to know one of my 'daughters' better. We just clicked. i don't know when it started but we just kinda got along pretty well.

One day, she invited me to the playground opposite the chalets. It was an appointment. She said she had something to tell me (if i remember correctly). i thought we had issues and she needed to trash it out. But, i forgot and slept the afternoon away.

When i remembered and asked her later, she said it was nothing. Ooops, i'd stepped on her tail, i thought to myself.

But one night, a few days later, she came to me and asked...

"Can I be your friend?"

Huh???

"i thought we are already friends!" i said, flabbergasted.

She then proceeded to tell me that that was how she made friends. She was serious about friendships. She was intense. We chatted late into the night. i couldn't remember the rest of the conversation. My memory has failed me. But, yeah, we became friends... officially... O_o

She has her quaint ways and all. We kept in touch after the camp; writing snail mails, sending cards (i will never forget her self-designed birthday card for my 21st birthday! It was awesome!), calling each other...

But distance kind of cooled down our friendship. i was in KL and she was up north. Later, i did visit her hometown twice and met up, pigged myself, talked about old times and updated each other.

Over the years, there is one thing, however, that she has continued doing; calling me up on my birthdays to wish me. i would love to say that i have been diligently doing the same but alas, i haven't. i forgot to call her on her birthday in 2003 (Why 2003? Now that's another post.) and on another year, i called her but couldn't get her because she was in Langkawi with a group of friends and she had left her handphone in another room (Hah! i remember this detail).

A few months ago, after discovering FB, i 'found' her and is now more updated with her news and all. i 'see' my 'daughter' more frequently now on FB and chats.

So, now that i am more Internet-savvy and could afford to siok a bit...

Happy birthday, anakku! Thanks for your friendship. i cherish you lots!

(How much? i have dedicated this whole blog entry for you! So don't expect a call from me lah!)

Okaylah, will call you later tonight... have to keep the tradition going...

Love always,

Mama