Mingling with My Past

I have just returned from the farewell dinner for the sales director of the previous company I worked for. It was like old times. All of us joking, catching up with each other and describing challenging situations at work created by my ex-boss. Its ironic that what pulled us together, and forged the bonds between us was my boss. He is the reason why people are starting to leave the company, and for the low morale in the office.

All of us have spent at least 5-11 years working with each other. Having been in each other's lives almost everyday for those years, we were almost like brothers and sisters, a kind of a second family away from home. We would never be able to find the same comaderie and special team spirit that we had. Which is why so many of us stuck on for as long as we did - because we felt that we were a family united against a common enemy.

Well, my sales director is moving to Manhattan, New York to take up a new leadership position in a financial institution. At the same time, he is starting a real estate company in India, his home town. Already, he has 11 projects even before his business has been officially launched. In actual fact, my sales director has a huge family business. His dad owns a huge tea plantation. Being a party animal, we have heard stories of how he returned home drunk, crawled out of his car and slept out in the tea plantation. When those times occurred, the caretaker who had seen him grow up would dutifully bring out a blanket to cover him from the cold.

A charming chap, his ex girlfriend was the daughter of one of the chair members of the Citibank Group worldwide. He broke it off as he could not take the stress of a girlfriend who jet sets around the world to do her shopping on a private jet, and who's single purchase equals 10K. Being a man who respected values like hard work and capability, he could not envision himself living off her father's money. At the same time, he could not afford her lifestyle. As much as he liked her, he called off the relationship and took up smoking again.

Meeting him again after some time, where I never got the chance to properly thank him, I was surprised when he gave me a big hug and a big peck on the cheek. But then again, I have always felt that he had a soft spot for me as a sister. I am truly happy for him as I have always felt that Singapore was too small and narrow minded for his talent and big heart. I think he will truly thrive in NY and live it up there. It is always heartwarming to know that those who were a large part of your life are moving on to bigger and better things, even if its tough saying goodbye and letting them go. But then there will always be opporunities to meet up again. Like his invitation to join him at Bintan for the weekend where he has gotten a total of 48 friends to give him a sending away party in Banyan tree. They have booked 24 rooms and Banyan tree will let us book a room for 160 for a 3 day 2 night stay where its original rates are 200 per night. My bags are already packed...