To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to Clarke Quay for a night out. Funny coz I think I spent most of 2012 in that area. Nowadays, Pooja and I, wine glasses in hand, would talk about those days and be completely amused at how the people we were a few years back are complete strangers to us now. For one thing, I can’t fit in my hot pink bodycon dress without flashing my knickers, haha! The idea of going for an all-nighter and then coming to work the next morning seems so foreign now. How did we even function!? I’d exclaim that we should’ve bought bottles of wine instead of downing the King Robert when we all didn’t want to spend on proper alcohol. “See, 2 bottles of wine is equal to 1 King Robert!!,” I’d comment now. But Clarke Quay (and the bridge!), as Pooja states it, is a rite of passage. We had to go through it to realize that it’s not somewhere you’d want to be and to appreciate the “finer” things in life. That isn’t to say I didn’t have fun in the Bridge – I’ve had shitloads of really cool memories there! – but ask me to hang there now, I’d have to think twice about it. Maybe I’m just getting old and no fun.. But the thing is, fun is always defined subjectively. At this point in time, “fun” for me is gathering everyone at a nice and comfy spot for good food, a few drinks, and lots of kwentos (stories) and laughs. Without Clarke Quay and all the other rites of passages we’ve been through, I don’t think I’d be able to get the most crucial piece of today’s fun – the people I’m surrounded with.
I’ll rephrase Ted Mosby: You can’t have regular catch up sessions with your best friends unless you have best friends to do it with. And the only way you’re gonna find them is by going out and strengthening the bond by doing stupid stuff together. Coz at the end of the day, it’s the people who’ve seen us at our silliest who have probably seen most of the real us.
So this Friday, if you can, gather your friends for a round of drinks and celebrate life and each other. 🙂
xx