I am excited to participate in this challenge by the ASEAN Hive community. Though I am late, let me share it anyway. This challenge took me back to my high school days and brought back a lot of memories.
I have a few friends from my High school years, and we have remained friends till now. Originally, we were five friends, then we became nine. We were high school classmates. We call ourselves X-JAMS. The letters are our names' initials. Four friends were added during our college years. One friend is my distant cousin, another one is my close friend from elementary school, and the other two are Mary Love and Jennifer's cousins. My friends are like my siblings. We say and tell things comfortably. We even criticize when needed. My friends have different characteristics, and we accept each other's differences. We came from different backgrounds, and we have different religions. I tell you we don't talk about religions. We truly accept and respect each other's faith and beliefs. We've had disagreements, arguments, and disappointments, but we forgive and forget.
Great thing, I took these photos from Jennifer's photo album when we bonded at her house last year.
This was around the year 1999 or 2000. The time when we didn't have smartphones yet. These are the best times. Why? Because this is the era before the digital world came in. Well, there was internet already, but no smartphones or social media. We communicated through the telephone lines, we can have a three to four-way conversation, which means four of us are on the telephone on different lines. I remember when my friend had a crush on someone, and she looked for his number in the directory. Everyone's telephone number can be found in the directory. You can even call actors, haha, except if their line is confidential. Then we have a three-way. We listened to their conversation, and it was funny. Before, if we wanted to meet, we set the time and date. We didn't have a smartphone to update everyone on changes or our location, so everyone must come to the meeting place.
The first photo was an overnight stay at Jennifer's. The second photo on the right was during the Junior and Senior prom- from the left, Bam, Jennifer, Mary Love, me, and Xylef.
This is Febe (a classmate), me, Mary Love, Xylef, and Jennifer.
Oh, the San Miguel Beer there? I can't remember, haha... During college years, we didn't go to bars to drink. My friends' brothers and sisters were strict. During those times, we bond at the carnival, the cinema, a bowling center, a friend's house, a beach, and a skating rink.
Xylef, Jennifer, Love, and I
Now, we have our different paths in life. We have our own family and children. Jennifer resides in Germany, Mary Love lives and works in Singapore, Bam (Simple) lives in Davao, Lizel lives in Norway, Judith works in Dubai, Xylef, Jenn, Agnes, and I stayed in town. That doesn't mean friendship stops because we are separated and far from each other. We still see each other if time permits, and we have a group chat. We sometimes message each other there. A friend sends random funny videos, and another friend asks random questions. We update each other on important events in life. Greet each other on birthdays. We sometimes meet virtually.
On Love's wedding. Lizel and Bam are not in the picture.
We became godmothers to each other's children.
Love's daughter's dedication
This was last year's reunion. Love and Lizel didn't come home.
When I was diagnosed with c, they were there comforting me and willing to help me. They contributed to supporting my treatment. Two of them even paid for three days of admission. I am so blessed to have them.
Our love deepens the more we get older. Friendship that is tested by times and storms and strengthened during difficult times. I believe every friend is chosen by God for you. True friends are great friends chosen by Him.
That is all. Thank you for reading this far.
