[***Disclaimer: This. Is. Going. To. Be. Too. Long. If you don't feel up to it, go here and watch this instead. You're welcome.***]
I apologize for not being particularly funny here lately. It's not that times haven't been fun, on the contrary, the past week has contained its very fair share of fun times, so much so that I didn't even have time to troll the Internet like I usually would.
And this post will be no different. If you laugh at any point during the reading of this post, or after, during your reflecting on this post, because that's what my dedicated readership does after each and every one of my posts, you're an ogre. And not in the fairy-tale ooh-I'm-Shrek way, or a literal ogre, but ogre in the sense of the adjective.
Don't you dare laugh at my whimsical attempt to explain myself.
Whimsical. Try saying that word. It's fun.
What I'm about to do goes against two of the cardinal rules long held (one year and running) by Stupefying Stupi...err, Tell Somebody.
Kids, can you say, foreshadowing?
*foreshadowing!*
I'm not only about to name-drop a bunch of people/groups, I'm about to recount semi-specific events that have occurred over the last 16 months in my life.
... (apparently "-_____-" conveys the same sentiment as dot dot dot, I may switch over, not only because I think the ASCII representation of pursed lips is kinda cool, but also, somehow, I save money on my car insurance too)
[***Disclaimer 2: If you did not play a part in my last 16 months, but have previously starred in the movie that is McOysty's life story, or will feel offended if I don't mention you at all in this post possibly because I'll try to orient it more to the people that I know for a fact read this blog, or if you never intended to read about my life and would prefer me to go back to delivering topical posts, here's some quality reading material for you to jump to instead of getting all steamed up about piddly blog-shout-outs. No seriously, how many 2008 Republican candidates besides Giulani can you name? Maybe you should read both.***]
Before I get going, I would just like to take this time to acknowledge the fact that I just ate a whole Delissio pizza by myself. Delissio. It's not delivery. It's Delissio.
That message was brought to you by the people at 'The More You Know', in association with 'Sharing is Caring'.
16 months ago, I entered the workforce, in a move that would have resonating implications on my friends, my family, and my non-existent future plans. 16 months ago, I slapped on a white collar, and started paying extravagant amounts of taxes to the man. 16 months ago, I said goodbye to all my same-aged friends who would eventually graduate without me, and forged ahead seemingly by myself. And, 16 months ago, I started developing the most unhealthy of a Tim Hortons habit.
Sprinkle donuts float my boat.
Truthfully I don't even know how to write this. 16 months has been the longest set amount of time I've ever committed to anything contractually in my life thus far. But looking back, I didn't even realize 16 months had passed until it was over. And now it's over. The aforementioned graduated friends are all making a life for themselves after university (or some are going for further education) and I am going back to school. How the tables have turned.
But despite all the talks about same-aged friends, it was people younger and older that showed me a lot this year. A lot about work. A lot about my church. A lot about God. A lot about love. And a lot about myself.
To my friends that held down worship with Jeff and myself this summer (Dereklai and co.), and actually all the folks that helped out on Sundays in general the past 16 months (Fafaa, that's you!), it was truly a blessing to be able to serve in a way that utilizes something I love so dearly (and critique so fiercely), music. At the same time, realizing our rocking abilities are not for us to hoard, but to be used to give glory to a God so much bigger and glorious than we could ever do justice. I know a lot of us will have departed from Toronto as you read this, but know that we were taking part in something so beautiful and it was really a privilege to partner in this with every one of you. Run with the torch that we tried to pass on to you. And remember, it's not about you.
Cry break. Be back in five.
*sob*
To my boys who held me down every time I wanted to visit Queens. I'll most certainly repay the favor anytime you want to re-live University craziness.
To my friends who emailed me, and the friends who are still emailing me, thank you. It's not easy to read my grammatically incorrect essay-lengthed type emails. Email is still the way to go. Facebook and it's not-letting-me-abbreviate-my-real-name-whilst-signing-up-policies can go run into oncoming traffic.
To the friends who got together on a whim to play board games, to eat dinner, to watch movies, to catch a Blue Jays game, or to go take pictures of the night-lights offered by downtown Toronto, thanks for keeping it light and just kickin' it.
Shout-out to my Internet friend. We're a few days away from potentially becoming real friends. Who knows. And to my other former-Internet friend, the brilliant creator of rectangle comics, thanks for covering for me when I stormed out on this blog (only to later return with the worst possible template). And for being the best. Seriously. Western doesn't deserve you. Ketchup... Chips!
Of course, as a Chinese Christian, I have an obligation to mention softball. In 16 months, I had the opportunity to be a part of two entirely different teams. The first team, the Harbs, took home the Most Appreciated Team trophy. My second team, the Seraphs, took home second place in a very evened out Junior circuit. But if ever I had to debate myself, I would argue the Seraphs should've served as the most appreciated team, but this could very well be because I had a much bigger stake in that team than the other.
The results are not what mattered to me though. The friendships formed, the friendships rekindled, and the friendships deepened through the seasons trump the trophies sitting in the locked display case at church. Thank you to everyone who put in hard work in practices, at games, and even at socials (the risk involved in reaching out to people is exponentially more than getting in front of a batted softball). And thank your parents for me too, for the random food they'd bring to the games (grilling fresh hot dogs at the park for us...that was ridiculous).
I was proud to walk into work most Mondays with the hoarsest voice (not in the sexy raspy kinda way as portrayed by my semi-emo governor I was the assistant to (not assistant governor, assistant TO the governor, get it right, and yes I'm totally watching episodes of the Office while I write this bracket within a bracket) on the Seraphs).
And I'm officially old. In sixteen months, I blew out two knees (minor...but worse than anything I've previously done to myself, as I'm normally physically inactivity), found out my feet get terribly uncomfortable after short walks (on the beach...joking). But the spurts of physical activity I partook in allowed me to discover parts of downtown Toronto, places I hope to revisit regularly in the future.
There also was a time within the past 16 months when I went to the gym 3 times a work-week, which was infinitely more than I had been to a gym before, period. Then I discovered that lifting weights didn't agree with my achy-breaky joints, caused most probably by my lack of calcium intake.
I saved a little room in this post for my parents, who patiently put up with my new-found independent attitude and uncleanliness. I haven't had to cook, do laundry (save for one fine shirt that is only to be hand-washed, sogh, you're still the best), nor clear the washroom for 16 months. Incredible.
I don't know what the next 8 months hold in store for me. I don't even know what it means to be a student anymore, it's been that long. And somehow, I have two calculators. Completely unnecessary.
But life moves on, whether you want it to or not. Things & people change, whether you want them to or not.
You've all been great.
I've been aawesome.
This blog lives on. Stay tuned for bigger and better things. September 21st! If all goes according to plan (it never does). If all else fails, you can now find me on Facebook. I didn't say it was going to be easy, but it is possible. Dreams can come true.
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