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e m P t Y

Tried to write a letter; In ink
I've got a piece of paper; But it's Empty

{/[131] --

Sunday, July 15, 2007 ( 7/15/2007 06:13:00 PM )

Interesting how a week can make you grow up.
I was pickpocketed on Tueday this week on the MRT train at City Hall MRT Station.
The culprits were caught yes..
A plainsclothes policeman caught two of them.. one who kept a lookout and the other who took my handphone..
Thank goodness for him otherwise i would have lost my phone for good..
Went to the police station at Tanglin and had my statement taken now..
All in all..
It was a pretty horrible experience.
I guess you could say that i grew up.
Learnt more.
This experience has snapped me away from my self-delusion that Singapore is very safe.
And the ugly nature of Singaporeans.
I still remember the split second that i lost my handphone and was panicking when i noticed the look on some people's faces.
They knew.
FUCK.
And they never stepped up to help.
I seem to have bad experiences all the time on MRT stations.

Wednesday 11 July 2007.
We received news that Mr Yeo had passed away.

13 July 2007.
SACO - ex members and current members - gathered at Lakeside MRT station to attend Mr Yeo's wake.

When we arrived at the place where they held the wake, it was a sombre moment as we went in groups to pay our respects to him.
They had placed the huge card we had made for him.. the one we had all wrote notes written on heart-shaped paper and pasted on the board- right next to him.

I admit, there was a small part of me which believed that this was all but just a dream, a joke, and i would wake up the very nxt second laughing at myself for such a silly dream.
The tears came as i neared the coffin and saw Mr Yeo for the last time.
Under the facade of makeup, he seemed fake, plastic..
But I knew it was Mr Yeo.
Mr Yeo who had fought against the cancer so hard for the people who loved him..
Memories flooded into my mind.. of him conducting, of him smiling, of him bringing snacks n sweets for us to reward us for our efforts, of him teaching me how to hold e xiao ba and teaching me my part for the xylophone for FNJ..
He had the most peaceful expression on his face and a slight smile which i knew we would soon never see again.
It took all of my will and strength to tear my eyes away from him..
Undescribable grief and pain...

Listening to weiling making her speech, i knew that all of us were very much affected by the memories that were invoked as she read through all the memories we had of him.
Without Mr yeo, perhaps i wouldn't have begun to love co so much..
Though the time spent with him was short, it was a period that has impacted me deeply..
Mr yeo has given without asking for anything in return.
He has contributed to the success of the orchestra in many ways..
He has patiently taught us.
I only remember he got angry once..
Once..
And that was because we all knew that he was under alot of stress from the school.
His smile..
Always patient.
Always kind.
Always there..

Perhaps i have taken Mr yeo for granted.
I never used to feel close to him, and never bothered to try to.
Perhaps foolishly i have thought that he would always be there for us, with that patient and ci xiang smile that takes all anxiety away..
Perhaps I did not treasure him..
I'm sorry Mr Yeo.
Really sorry.
Rest in peace..

Mr Yeo has taught me all the greatest gift that no one else can ever given - to cherish everything around you.
Everyone, everyfriend, every thing, is there, or happens for a reason.
No matter how minor or how major a role that he or she plays in your life, no matter whether you dislike or you like him/her.
Everyone is there for a reason, to teach you certain principles in life, to help you, to make you mature.. everything happens for a reason.
Cherish all around you, cherish everything that happens..
No matter bad or good, before it's too late for regrets..

Mr Yeo has left us..
Forever and ever.
But the spirit that he has left behind shall never die..

in loving memory of mr yeo puay hian.