pen pals
Have you ever managed to remain in contact with an elementary/primary school friend till now, and then when the opportunity arises, you decide to meet up after years apart? P and I weren't really that close in second grade, the sort of little girls that hang out at each others' homes playing Barbie after school, the pair that insist on doing everything together. Thanks to my retentive memory, I did remember that she wore a pony tail, sat next to me in the school year photo, and at her b-day party there was a scary-looking clown that drew our faces. One cannot have one best mate at the tender age of eight? The world revolved around our young minds in a mysterious way; it would be arbitrary for a 25-year-old to fathom the thoughts of my eight-year-old self. Anyhow, we wrote each other letters, sent pictures and small presents, perhaps only once a year, and after eighteen seasons it just so happened that P and her boyfriend were coming to England for the commemoration, therefore we arranged to meet for lunch in London. We had no difficulty in recognising each other, and certainly a lot to catch up on since I left Boston--I felt very happy to see her. Don't think I will make a tremendous effort to keep in touch, we never have really, but it would be awesome to meet up again in some unspecified future. As the Chinese like to say: 君子之交淡如水。 (The friendship of decent men is as light as water.)