My box.

Years ago not long after I left the army I worked for a couple people who ran their own property marketing firm. I was just a kid, 22? I knew nothing about anything. Never exposed to the world of sly deals and easy steals it was all a bit of a shock to my system. Flush with cash, young and irresponsible I pissed whatever I had on drinking and well at the time there was rather alot of gambling. Am I proud of myself? no, but do i beat myself up about it the answer i no. We grow, we learn, we make bigger and better mistakes but we cant live in the past. We can only look back with hindsight and say phew thank god i am not that guy anymore.

The great thing that came out of that period were the relationships, one of my best friends is someone i met during that time. When I met her all those years ago she was preggers with her first child and today its 3 children later for her and 2 for me. I mean we didn't think past next week in those days much left the 15yrs we have known each other. We are a lifetime away from being the kind of people we were then but we are still good friends to each other and been there for each other through some tough times.

The other great relationship that came out of those days is my love for the Amoy street area. Amoy Street, Club Street, Boon Tat Street and jingle bell lane. When i walk these streetsI am nostalgic for those heady days of promise, a young man making his way in the world. A babe in the woods so to speak. When i look at the buildings today its like looking at old friends and in my mind i think of my barber that used to sip tea with me or the coffee shop where we used to grab lunch, the spot i used to wait for a ride home., the pillars my friend brad and i used to walk past at 3am as we left the office to grab a bite. Some nights we slept in the office. I spent many happy hours since those days walking around and feeling the vibe of the area but it seems even that has changed. That happens i guess life moves on its impossible to ignore.

If your wondering what the wooden box is well that's what triggered these memories. I bought that a thrift shop a couple of years ago along boon tat st i think and every time i open it to get some of my paints out i think of that place, and those days. You cant live in the past the best you can do is to look back and say phew I am glad i was that guy.