Moving On

2004-05-23 9:15 p.m.

The second event that occurred yesterday was a birthday party. Ok, so it was Neil’s Twenty First birthday and birthdays are nothing much to talk about. However, I wish to talk about two parties, his and Colin’s which was just last Sunday.

Right, where should I begin? There is something important enough to hold a party for your twenty first year on earth. After all, you officially become an adult (although you may have acted like one since thirteen) with many new doors open for you. You’re allowed to view movies filled with excessive violent scenes or sexually explicit actions, you can enter any bar and drink any thing you wish (unless it’s poison), engage in procreation (well that should be only if you’ve tied the knot and you the right to decide who leads you’re country. (This last line brings back memories from the debate, “This House Believes that Voting should be made compulsory”). The most striking part of moving away from you’re childhood and your teenage years is that you have matured.

Now did I say matured? That’s actually a very lose conclusion. Humans mature at different rates, be it physically, mentally or in other areas. Let us make it simplified in this case. It’s from my viewpoint of the different groups that came for both parties.

For Colin’s party, which was at his house, he requested us to arrive one hour earlier then the stipulated time at 1900 hours. “Us” meant the whole small group with the age range between 19 to 24. (The twenty four year old was Dean but his age meant nothing to us—he could mix around with anyone.) The reason was not that we wouldn’t have enough food—which was scrumptious DIY pizza, sushi rolls and pita bread, but that the place would get swarmed with too many people. Besides our Church small group, which made up a pitiful fraction of the individuals there, Colin’s Council mates and other friends dominated the scene. There was a distinct segregation between my group and the rest and not just in age. The others were mature in more in their conversation, which encompassed work, studies at local universities and heading overseas. Their appearance also showed a striking contrast to our young faces—ok anyone can look any age they want to—but then again, there just was a sure distance between us youngsters and the rest of them. Ok, Lincoln and Paul are turning 21 this year, but they just don’t seem to have the more “mature” look. Or is tit because I’m the smallest and youngest person there?

Second Party was at the top floor of the SECOM building. The ambience was akin to that of a four star hotel the minute I stepped out of the elevator. Rows of sushi, Malay Noodles, Stir fried Chinese Beef, fried Calamari and Duck were nestled in shiny trays. Tucked in a corner was some Sirloin Steak form New Zealand. One had the choice of Punch, Foster Beer or Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m digressing. Being one of the earliest, I found myself amongst Neil’s relatives, council mates and army friends. I’ve been a fish out of water in many occasions but this time it was like a goldfish thrown into the sea. Struck a conversation with his Army mates, who incidentally were all Officers at 1 SIR. So there’s one similarity I shared with them—being a member of the Sixth Division. The dinner conversation was short, with the main topic being introductions and such. Oh yes, they wanted me to introduce them to any pretty girls that I knew of, especially from my church. Now doesn’t that sound familiar. In reply, I asked one of them whether that was an order. His reply: I don’t pull rank in most cases but I’ll make it so. Other that fifteen minute conversation with them, I found myself lost amongst people at least twenty two years of age or older. When the others came, the same distinct contrast was seen between our group and the rest.

It’s a weird manner in which I wrote this entry. So naturally adults do look more matured than people young than them. They do act differently and discuss different topics. Transition takes place at different periods of your lives, but it probably strikes you the most when you cross into the twenty first year of your life. Suddenly, you want to remember that day and sometimes dread that day, for in means the lost of the old days of naivety, no burdens and straight roads. In both parties, there just was this atmosphere of joy and yet a yearning for the past.

previous - next