Sometimes, we all wish to re-visit a part of our memories, to live that experience again, to appreciate it to its fullest which we were not able to do at that time because we didn't know how lucky we were.
I miss rushing for and taking the various Penguins (1, Tekong, Ubin, Prosperity, Chawan, Serabok) from 0800 to 0845.
I miss the branch in HQ where I wore my crisp number 4 and played the XBox during office hours with my fellow warriors of Training Branch.
I miss the planned canteen breaks featuring Tekong only MSG overdose, sardine puffs and roti john , without fail, at 1000hrs +/- 20 minutes everyday with the boys from HQ BMTC.
I miss the afternoon swims, sun-tan and gymming sessions at the beautiful BMTC pool with my understudy and ord-ed personnel.
I miss the get-together lunches with the whole HQ at cookhouse 3 where we were almost always, served with a fantastic variety of dishes while having a good laugh at our bosses and work.
I miss the air-conditioned office where I had my own computer with Dragon Warrior and Stepmania.
I miss the tennis sessions in the evening on the slanting court and dinner, after, at Ladang cafe with the Cornell scholar.
I miss the 21km runs around the island in fading light with Kenneth, where there was just us, fatigue, nature and the occasional 5-tonner roaring by.
I miss the stay in sessions with movie matinees, XBox wars and gatherings in front of the TV in log branch with night snacks thrown in.
I miss the midnight crab catching sessions at the canal next to School 1's SOC training ground.
I miss the OTOT book out sessions to home, Changi V, Tampines Mall and beyond.
I miss the intial D and crabbing skills of LTA Rudy, the jiggling of keys by CPT HF, the efficieny of CPT Foo, the naggings of 2WO Bakhtiar and best of all, the "Joos", "Jebras" and "Jouks" of 1WO Lim. Surprisingly,I miss the sure-hit arrows of Hei Niao Zi as well. Unreasonable though some of his requests were, he was always there to listen.
I miss my fellows friends and NSFs. All of us have ord-ed and gone our own path, whether it be work, studies or return to the U.S.
There is nothing like the old HQ anymore, not now, not ever again. The building still stands, the facilities are there, but we, the people, who created that fabulous, special, 1-off experience have all dispersed in pursuit of the next chapter of our lives.
I wish all of you well my friends.
