my legs ache. my body is exhausted. muscles crave rest, tendons sore. but my mind is sharp, and thoughts never stop forming.




today i helped out Ikram and his friend Carol take photographs and videos at the "P.T.E Class of '78 Reunion" at the Maktab Duli Auditorium. Carol's mom is in the organizing committee and they felt they should have extra photographers going around recording this memorable event thus Ikram, Carol, their friend Mamat and myself were recruited.




Filming the function, felt like looking through the lens of nostalgia. The four of us were'nt a part of the memories that unfolded, but we were allowed to peek in. Wrinkled faces smiled at the sight of old friends, laughter rang at the reminders of years long gone. The sight of happiness in their weathered faces, showed me that memories truly are forever cherished, and friendships can last over decades. I watched through the rectangular 4-megapixel screen as for one afternoon, these men and women were unburdened of their day to day responsibilities, and were allowed to be carefree again. Just like they were in 1978.




There was one part of the function where they read the Surah Al-Fatihah for the members of Class '78 who had passed away. One name was read out, and the whole auditorium burst into hushed murmurs. I looked questioningly at my crew. and it hit me, these people didnt know that the person who's name was now potrayed on the overhead projector screen was now deceased. Further prodings revealed he was a well-liked man in their school days, and it was a sad shock to know that he has returned to Him.




How would we react if we were in these peoples shoes? Someone who you havent contacted in over 20 years, and you found out hes now gone. How fragile Life is.




Though we were on our feet for the most of six hours, the thousands of smiles we managed to record was worth the ache.




I interviewed some of the men and women present, asking them things like their fondest memories, who was the class clown, did they have crushes back in the day. When Carol, Ikram, Nobel, Carols mom and i were back in Carols house watching the footage that we taped, Carol's mom commented that i should work in Media, apparently because I did a good job interviewing.




I logged into UCAS when i got back home, to check the status of my University applications.. no answers yet..




i WANT to do Media, i WANT to do Journalism..i WANT to be taught how to proof-read articles, to design a magazine cover, to edit video footage. but i HAVE a scholarship in Communication Studies, i APPLIED for Communication courses, I NEED a degree in something that is NOT limited to Journalism.




Our wants and needs are never the same. But if we're lucky, Life will present us with a compromise. And if we're smart, we take it with a smile.





[... i whispered in your ear, but you didnt hear the three words i said... ]