CLASS REUNION

The day I've been looking forward to finally arrived. "Don't forget, Naz," said Alice, "lunch at The Renaissance Friday, 15th October." Alice reminded me. I looked through my box of old photos and found several class photos taken years and years ago when we were at good old CHIJ. I smiled thinking of the happy times we shared. So I thought it would be a good idea to make several copies of the old photos and distribute them to my former classmates at the reunion. I also prepared little gifts for each one of them.

In front of our class, Form 1A with our teachers. Me front row third from left.

This one taken when we were in Form 4 with our class teacher, the ever popular Miss Dutt. That's me seated far right.

Then the moment arrived. As I was walking towards a group of 'young' ladies whom I presume were my classmates, I could hear my name being mentioned. "There's Naz, She's here!" And then there were hugs and more hugs as I recalled each person's name. We haven't met for a lonnnng time. There's dear Lil from Melbourne, Swi Neo from Singapore, Beng Kim, Jit Neo, Siew Fah, Kim Tee, Goon Hong, Ruby, Guek Lian and last but not least the organizer of the lunch, dear Alice. Obviously there were lots of chatter, exchanging news about grand-children, family photos to be shared . . . now and then trips to the buffet spread. Everybody were trying to scrutinize the old class photos, figuring out who is who, now and then bursting out laughing! Those were really precious moments for me, so happy to be remembered and cared.

Thank you dear friends. Hope there will be more moments like this, remembering that once for 11 years we were classmates in CHIJ Melaka.

Look at us now - Class of 62.

SAVINGS HABIT

While sorting out the mass of books in the box just now, I found this faded, yellowish 4" x 6 1/2" little book - The Post Office Savings Banks book. It has about 30 pages and interesting to note, on the front cover the notification was written in 4 languages - English, Malay. Chinese and Tamil. I smiled - it was my savings account book with the Post Office - No. 27679. Upon opening it, I realized that my first deposit of $10.00 was dated 23/12/52 (oh, that was the year I ended my Kindergarten education at the Sacred Heart Convent, Malacca - 6 years old!)


So you see, I started saving from a very young age. I must thank the Kindergarten teacher then and also the Malacca Post Office for initiating this savings program. Every morning, each child would buy a 10 cents stamp and affix it to a special Post Office card. When the stamps amounted to $10.00, we would go to the Post Office, hand the card over and have the amount stamped in our Savings Book. I remember as children, we were very enthusiastic and liked the idea of pasting stamps on our card and return it to the Post Office and at the same time, having our very own Savings Account book.

That was how it all started. Since that moment in 1952, I never stopped saving (and withdrawing :-) too). But it was a good habit initiated from young, don't you think so?

Full layout of the savings book when opened.