Wanted: Karaoke Buddies

To different people, the amount RM48 brings different meanings. For the poor, RM48 is one week's meal costs (almost like me). For the medium class, RM48 is an once-a-while treat. For the rich, RM48 is nothing but a few cents in their purse. But RM48 brought a whole new meaning to me tonight (or this morning since it's past midnight).

I paid RM48 to meet one of my good friends who will be leaving for Finland tomorrow and guess what, that was my last RM50 that should last me till the weekend. Bummer! And I've gotta land myself at Bangsar Village for a couple of hours tomorrow plus my car is running out of petrol. Looks like I have to start dipping into my savings account for this week. I'm hoping the next pay cheque would come in soon. Not because I am not doing well as a freelancer, but I really want to spend less as I am unsure where is the next pay cheque is going to come from).

Anyway, the RM48 spent was worth it, in the sense that I got to see my good friend one last time before she leaves (and never see her for another two years unless I get rich). But I also gained a whole lot more. Inclusive of the line of great buffet I didn't eat and the two songs I chosen but didn't sing, RM48 just to be in a karaoke room to do nothing is plain stupid and expensive. But it was in that dark noisy room that once again I reflected upon my life and realised who I have become today.

The karaoke room got bigger, the screen got larger, the songs got updated - but the things that change the most is the people and my life. Every time I walk into a karaoke session, it marks a turning point in my life. A friend who is leaving, colleagues who are departing, someone's getting older - every time I meet up with friends for karaoke (mind you, it's the same group of friends, I just never seem to go karaoke with anyone else), there's always news. And news bring changes. And changes means losing a part of me in life.

But I am always inspired to write in there, because I finally get to see where I have been and where I am headed to in the midst of my friends singing horribly to the kbox. Perhaps I am inspired by the short stories each MTV tells when a song is played. Perhaps I am awakened by the pathetic look each of my friends wore on their face in the dark (they never seem to change or grow up a bit). I just know that if I need to do something to awaken me from a dream, it would have to be the karaoke. But first thing first, time to look for new karaoke buddies. These old birds still sing the same damn songs from two years ago. Move on, peeps!

Mini Bites of the day: When you know what inspire you, hold on to it and never let go.