The Road to 40 Day 34/365: Old friends with new lives

by | Jun 13, 2025 | Strawberry-Filled Donuts

As we grow older, our circles become smaller, but it doesn’t mean everyone else is a stranger.

Che was going to be back later in the day, but it was a bit of a busy day because of appointments.

By Year 4, Vino will be using a tablet for school. While he has one now, it doesn’t meet the required specifications that the school suggested. Thankfully, Che has enough “kudos” points to get one from their shop.

So every quarter, some people have the opportunity to send these “kudos” points to people in the company. It’s kind of a “thank you” or a “good job” and is counted as points you can earn and later redeem for selected items.

Che usually keeps these points for nice items we would rather not invest on with money but we think we might need. Last time, we got a smart watch for Vino. This time, she had enough points to get an iPad that adheres to the school requirements.

We waited about two months for it, and the day the tried to deliver at home was during the time I was on my way to pick up Vino.

The school had a bit of a seminar about how they will be using the tablets on campus on this day, so I decided to just drop by the shop to pick it up so I can set it up immediately.

It led me to Tanjong Katong, which was an hour away from Vino’s school.

Unfortunately, it was not yet open when I got there, so I dropped by a local hawker to eat a couple of my favorites when I eat alone – egg-onion prata and fishball noodles.

The Iced Lemon Tea was good. I remember I told Che I would brew my own iced lemon tea at home when I had more time. Anyway, I went to the shop shortly after, picked up the goods, and went back home.

I brought all the stuff I needed because I thought I was going straight to school after I picked up the tablet, but it was so damn hot that I decided I’d go home first.

I picked up a change of clothes for Vino because I was supposed to meet an old friend and her family later on.

Did the seminar and picked up Vino. I was excited to tell Vino that we were going to the National Stadium to play in an inflatable playground with two new kids, so I searched it online again.

Then I realized that the event was going to start on June 13th, and it was only the 12th.

 

Good thing my friend suggested Marina Square, which also had an inflatable playground during this time. Vino and I rode the train to get there, and while waiting, I decided to get him a haircut.

Vino wants to grow out his hair, and that’s fine. I also wanted to do that when I was younger. His school is not strict with haircuts, so we’re letting him be. But because his hair is like mine, it’s really difficult to style naturally, and it’s now covering his eyes.

I convinced him to try this new salon, which we saw a poster of while we were heading up the mall. We had a plan for his hair, but when I was asked if they should cut it Singapore or Korean style, I did not hesitate saying Korean.

While Vino agreed to the style we looked up, I was curious as to how this salon would treat his hair.

By the end of it, I was happy with it, Vino was happy with it, and they even gave him a toy and a candy.

As we walked along the mall, we saw my friend walking towards the playground.

This was the first time I saw her since maybe sixth grade. It’s been so long that she doesn’t even know how to introduce me to her husband – was I Rudolf, or was I Volt now?

It was the same thing for me, as I told Vino that I knew her as Divine, but she now goes by Grace on Facebook.

Naturally, it was my first time meeting her husband and kids as well.

Play is play though, and Vino and the kids got along quickly as they were able to jump and run around. We tried to catch up as much as we could during our time, talking about old friends, old hobbies, and how we ended up where we are now.

Now I’m hoping to reel back Pierre to basketball even if he lives a bit far away, and hopefully get Vino a couple of new friends who live near our place back in the PH.

Technology is amazing in this way, as I’m never truly cut off from anyone except if I choose to be.

We’ve chosen vastly different paths, with just a faint connection of being seatmates in Grade 3 and a common interest in Sailor Moon and maybe Potchi. Still, it was nice to listen to how she has grown into this new life with two lovely daughters and a good husband.

Che got home as Vino and the kids were eating, and while the kids still wanted to play a bit, I had to cut our time short to see Che again.

 

She assured me that we could take our time but with the life that I am leading now, I’ll always choose to be with her.

I hope that Vino sees the value in building good relationships with people, especially now that he’s studying in an international school. No matter how small the connection is, as long as they are with good people, it’s always going to be a good time together anywhere in the world.

But the relationship a husband has with his wife is always going to be the most important connection to keep.

And so the three of us are back again on the same bed, and like always, Che and I had to find our own corners in the bed because of how Vino took over the whole bed.

Wouldn’t trade it for anything though.

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