An old friend and colleague of mine, Steven Choo called to have lunch and without hesitation, I agreed.
Steven is a very close friend whom I have known for more than thirty years. I first met Steven when I returned from Singapore after training in my new employer's, Olivetti (M) Sdn. Bhd, training center there in 1974.
Steven was very friendly and was already very excited about golfing. He was a member of the Seremban Golf Club at that time. He impressed me, then, as an agressive sale person.
Before long, he was promoted to be my manager. We worked well together and performed quite well and that was followed by another promotion for Steven to Ipoh as the Branch Manager. I was also offered a promotion to be the sales manager for Kota Kinabalu, but I turned down the opportunity as I thought it too far for my liking.
However, another year down the road, I was made another offer which I couldn't refuse. The chance to be the sales manager for our Penang Branch. I assume office in July and kept close contact with Steven. Molly, my wife, and I use to drive all the way to Ipoh, stay at Steven's home, and have breakfast at the famous Ipoh curry noodle shop on Yang Kalsom Road. Really Crazy!
Our friendship stayed strong over the years and subsequently we parted of course, each going our ways but still kept in touch.
Over lunch today, we talked on all the things that were of interest to us and it dawned on me that we were both having almost totally grey hair and passed our our half century mark. Steven was already 60 plus while I was approaching 60 (57 to be exact).
After we parted from lunch, I had the opportunity to reflect on my life and felt happy for both of us as we were still healthy and rasonably successful in our lives, physically and financially.
We are now both doing the things that we love to do and can decide our rate of work involvement and not be too pressured in having to do because of earning a living.
I also felt that life has been kind to me and my involvement in community service through the Lions Club gave and still is giving me great satisfaction in being able to be of use to my community.
Just yesterday, a former staff and colleague of mine, KH Loh, called to have a short meeting with me and brought me great news. The offer of an opportunity to secure a substantially large amount of fund for community service. I am now preparing a paper to request to be submitted to Loh next week. Interesting, we both agreed that though we may now be materially wealthy, we know people who are super rich and willing to offer funds for community and humanitarian services through us. This gives us great satisfaction.
Well, I will now work on the paper and look forward to securing the allocation for me to help those who need assistance most.
Well, as the saying goes - Life is not about what we get out of it, but what we put into it. Anyone game to join me in serving? Write me and I shall be most delighted to invite you into our team. Cheers and good night!
