A couple of days ago, I visited an old friend in West Chester Pennsylvania.
A worthy trip. Megabus is still the best way to go. Generous seating spaces, smooth ride.
Things have surely changed for Vincent and PC. I had lived with them for about 1 year prior to my move to New York. It was the most economic living for me, $120+/month, sharing a "room" with Vincent-in the kitchen. Ah, the good old days.
Arriving Philadelphia, I took a walk around my old apartment on Powelton Ave.
I brought Maggi & Cintan Mee for Vincent. Apparently, Flushing is the only place we know for getting authentic Malaysian grocery items. Thanks to Megabus and even Boltz, I may even be able to bring more than just Mee. Marmite, Asam Laksa, Kaya, ENO, REBINA, etc.
With two kids, things sure have changed. Nonetheless, the atmosphere of familiarity is still thick. Even after almost 10 years of virtually no contact.
Seeing his cute little daugther did remind me of my baby (more than 10 years ago) cousin. Listening to his struggle as a father and husband tempted me for wanting my own daugther or son.
I admire the morale I still see in them - It appears to be some rare Malaysian virtue I don't often see, no, not even while I was in Malaysia. A strong "FOR Fellow Malaysians" attitude, which one doesn't often find in other cultures.
They had steamboat party the next day, but I had planned to leave on the day I arrived. Trying to make my trip simple, not to mention the Saturday evening Fellowship I had promised my pastor that I would attend (The whole month is up, my job is done, though, somehow I never got the chance to lead as the pastor had intended).
In matters of the Gospel, I can only pray for them now. Vincent is Catholic. For a short second, I had this horrible idea that I would rather Vincent stayed Catholic, lest they be affected by the populous pentacostal or evangelical movements. God forgive me.