Friday Five VI
This week’s Friday Five:
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List five things you’d like to accomplish by the end of the year.
I’ll need to work hard in school to get pull my GPA back up after my ill-fated venture into actuarial science last year. Now that my digital photo archive has more than 2,500 files, it’s probably wise to make a copy on a portable hard drive; I have to get one first though. Staying in touch with old friends has always been one of my top priorities; good friends are hard to come by. One picture is worth a thousand words; hopefully I can find time to incorporate a photo gallery into SG Watch by the end of the year.
Most importantly, be happy!
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List five people you’ve lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.
Mr Lim Hock Boon was my tuition teacher was 3 years; we used to discuss for hours about philosophy and religion, which obviously weren’t part of my school curriculum. While my dad remains the most influential person in my life, Mr Lim played an important role in shaping my religious and philosophical perspectives.
I had a best friend in my kindergarten whom I lost contact with after we entered primary school. I don’t remember his name; the only pieces of evidence I have that proved he wasn’t just another imaginary friend of mine were photos we took together.
It’s such a coincidence I met my primary school buddies Hongwei and Yuchong at Kinokuniya 4 years ago; I wonder how they managed to recognise me after all these years. We didn’t call one another like we promised after that brief meeting; soon I switched my pager for a cell phone and lost their contact numbers. I found Hongwei’s home address while cleaning my room last summer, and I’m going to send him a card this Christmas. The address is 7 years old; but we all believe in miracles, don’t we?
Another primary school buddy I hope to hear from again is Yuanquan. Together with Zhaotan (whom I miraculously found on Friendster after losing touch with each other for a decade) and me, we were a trio of jokes and laughter. We used to like 3 girls in our class and codenamed them PAP; but that’s a story for another time.
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List five things you’d like to learn how to do.
I’ve already missed my opportunity to learn diving several times; I always had something more important going on when there were spots available for the diving trips. Out of all the outdoor sports I’ve tried, rock-climbing is one sport I can never truly master; perhaps I should give it a shot again. I want to learn sailing so that I can embark on a sailing voyage around the world if ever I have the opportunity. I’ll consider learning skydiving; if I can overcome my fear of height. Practising yoga will probably help my body become more flexible and less prone to injury.
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List five things you’d do if you won the lottery (no limit).
I would choose a downtown loft apartment over a sprawling mansion with acres of rolling greens; despite my love for nature, I’ve always been a city boy at heart. While waiting for the renovations at my new place to be completed, I would bring my parents on a tour around the world. We’ll certainly be flying first-class and staying in presidential suites; they deserve nothing less.
I always dream of entering the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, a gruelling test of endurance that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon run (26.2 miles). I would have to focus all my time and energy into training if I wish to complete the race, and being rich allows me to train full-time. I probably take a shot at completing the adventurer’s grand slam while I’m in such good physical condition, climbing the highest peaks in all 7 continents and reaching both poles.
And of course, keep a low profile.
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List five things you do that help you relax.
There is nothing more notable in Socrates than that he found time, when he was an old man, to learn music and dancing, and thought it time well spent. Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought. You don’t stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop laughing. To achieve the impossible dream, try going to sleep.