Remembering A Friend

My last posting was on International Women's Day, 8th March at 1.46am.  I woke up early that significant day to send my car for service & then enjoyed a good breakfast of yong taufoo with my sister.  While driving to our breakfast place, there was an announcement of the missing Malaysian Airline aircraft. We merely thought that the plane must have had a technical problem and did an emergency landing somewhere.  Never did it cross our mind that the aircraft would have gone missing.

About noon, a friend sent a What'sApps message to say our friend's name, Goh Sock Lay, was listed as one of the crews on that flight.  She saw it in the news telecast on TV.  We asked around & finally received a confirmation from a friend who worked in the airline.

It was a shocking news for all of us.  We just met Sock Lay during Chinese New Year holiday back in our hometown.  We have all been in the same school since primary school.  We may have lost touch after we all left school but our friendships were re-ignited when we found each others again over Facebook. We met up in 2008 and since then have made several gatherings when we were able to find time.  With old friends, it was so easy to re-connect. We just laughed & joked like we did in the past!!!

I still have hope of finding Sock Lay. Not as announced by our Prime Minister yesterday (25th March) that the aircraft has crashed into the Indian Ocean. I hope she is fine somewhere, awaiting rescue. My friends & I continue to pray each day at 7pm for her safe return to her family, especially, and to all of us.  Since her loss, it has been difficult to stay focus at work or while driving. Images of her keep flashing past. The first thought that came to mind when I awake from sleep is whether we will find her on that day.

Ironically, my friends and I got very close over this incident. We What'sApps each other to provide emotional support to one another.  We talked about her, about us.  We openly express our care & love for one another. This tragedy brought us closer. We still anticipate her return to us safely. I am praying hard for your return, Sock Lay.  Please come home.
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The front page of The Star paper on the following day, 9th March, reporting the missing plane, MH370.



An introductory write-up about my friend.





It breaks my heart when The Star paper frontpage has my friend's name on it with an RIP message.



Sock Lay enjoying a bowl of Cendol at Jonker Walk during our last gathering during Chinese New Year. Let's do it again, friend!



That evening at Jonker Walk. Crowds enjoying the Chinese New Year holiday in a merry atmosphere.



A yummy bowl of Chendol comprising of shaved ice topped with palm sugar (Gula Melaka) and coconut milk. The Chendol (green strands made of rice flour) is added to the shaved ice.