友誼永固

在家翻看抽屜, 一疊一疊的信及聖誕新年賀卡仍舊放在一起, 一向不愛丟東西, 這些都是十年前, 即96年的信件. 那時剛畢業回港, 雖然開始多用電郵, 但這些珍貴的手寫信及賀卡還是常常收到的. 以下都是好友們寫給我的, 不會留名字, 我想他們都不介意吧.

Hi XXX,

What a wonderful feeling to have received your mail!! See you are working now and have a pretty "special" schedule!! Ha! Hope the harsh working hours won't "facilitate" the aging process!! Just Kidding!

So how do you like your job?? The XXX company in HK... Are you producing movies or series?? Or some sort like that. Seems to be very exciting and challenging stuffs! Hope you are happy with it.

As for me, I have just quitted the job as a project consultant for an aerospace and defence company. I didn't find the job suitable for someone who wanted to work as an engineer... so here I am... jobless!! Can't believe that! At the moment, I am working hard to find a new job, hopefully in the field of Information Technology and Aerospace...

In fact, I am working on getting a job in HK too!! Does that surprise you?? Hey! What do you think about HK turnover to China?? And how do you like this shipping tycoon Tung Chee Hwa??

Alright, in answering your question: Yes my girlfriend, XXX, is still in XXX, doing her master in XXX XXX. How about you? Remember you were always emailing with your boyfriend in HK back at XXX XXX... How's going?

Woh! Running out of space!!
By the way, 我的華文不大好.
只會寫幾個中文字而已! 見笑啊!
Ha! I think you are the one who doesn't know Chinese!!

Oh Right, Do take care of yourself and sleep tight (tough working schedule you have here)

PS 1. If you have email, get me @XXXXXXXX
2. You have very beautiful writing!! I like it very much! Was not aware of it tough...

Yours,
XXX
Dec 23, 96

Dearest XXX,

記得第一次在UnionXXX的Orientation見到妳, 覺得你的樣子很純良和很乖, 令人很想接近, 後來由XXX介紹便一起去吃早餐. 你是我在XXX第二個認識的好朋友.

有一次, 我自己在XXX時有些不開心, 突然在屋內哭起來, 剛好妳們到來我家, 但我真的忍不住哭, 我想你們也見到的. 其實, 我已不是易哭的人, 第一次離開香港時也沒哭. 但是當我和人接觸得越多, 尤其是和妳一起兩年在這個XXX城渡過了最凍的冬天和炎熱的夏天後, 很多一起努力, 驚慌, 擔心, 開心, 鼓勵, 捱夜趕工的片段都印在我的腦中, 所以兩次你說要離開我們返香港時, 我真捨不得, 不知我們幾時會再見.

別忘XXXbasement的足球桌& pool game

別忘我們一起煮的Thanksgiving dinner

別忘Spring break時在Mall of America購物

別忘summer時一起在cafe傾偈& drink
別忘我們一起看的"Bridge of Madison County"

別忘XXX的Chinese restaurant & casino

別忘我們一起吃的團年飯

別忘我們睡時搶被和傾心事 (澄清: 我們都是喜歡男人的 :) , 那時她在別處做intern, 週末回來沒地方住便在我處留宿, 女孩子share床, 十分普通吧了)

雖然妳有時會表現得不斯文, 和很易把人得罪, 我知你是沒有心的, 其實, 我覺得你做人很真, 重感情, 重朋友, 有愛心, 而且還很溫柔(sometimes), 更和我一樣懂得跳ballet, 我們是有相同的地方, 和你一起很自然, 很開心!

希望你事業和愛情也如意, 一帆風順, 不再用煩惱. Best Wishes!

Love,
XXX
6.14.96

Dearest XXX,

How are you doing? 聽XXX講妳找到工, 恭喜妳! 一切好嘛? 妳就happy, 事業, 愛情皆得意!

我搬左, 一切亦很好! 暫時很滿意, 但就嘈左D, 希望開左學之後會好D啦! XXX下星期會搬到Chicago, XXX已經去了NY探男友!

今日收到XXX的信, 佢剛resign了, 因為要考securities broker's exam. 有個八卦消息, XXX原來不是XXX畢業(意指honor, i.e. distinction, similar to first honor degree in UK system), 因為本名冊沒有佢個名, 真係估唔到佢咁cheap! Cheap到嘔!

我希望可以快D返HK, 我時時睇住個日曆, 希望日子可以快D到.

我父母今個Dec來睇我行禮, 當然好開心啦! 唔知重有無friends來呢?

今日我生日呀! 一早被花店嘈醒, 因為XXX(女的)送左D花比我, 好開心, 就算嘈醒都抵. 今晚找了XXX(都是女的)吃飯, 我煮呀! 前兩日買左2支紅酒今晚會飲左去! :)

Did you see XXX (girl)? I haven't received anything from her, just wondering how's she doing. Say "hi" to her when you see her. Better go, take care!

XXX

Aug XX, 96

以上三個友人都仍有聯絡, 兩個在他方, 一個在香港. 本打算分享十多廿封信, 當中大部分仍有聯絡, 有些已消聲匿跡. 原來要打那麼多封信頗費時, 有機會或有時間再續...