Retirement

I was attending a very senior partner's retirement yesterday. This partner was someone who I worked for for many years when I was in my previous company.

You know, I left my old company in 2005 because I felt there was no way for me to progress further in the firm. Sometimes, I look back and regret that action. Yes, I have more pay right now, but sometimes it is the camaraderie and the "family closeness" of my first company that brings very nostalgic feelings, somethings that are not apparent in the place I'm working for right now. Honestly, right now, I am just a prostitute, working for the person who pays me the highest. I'm nothing more than a hired mercernary.

This senior partner, I remember joining the firm and I was warned not to piss this fella off. "wah, yesterday I heard he tore up an Analysts' resume man and told him to get out". Already I kecut when I heard that.

But this partner has somehow treated me well. I remember some classic moments.. one where he apparently was on a boat in Phuket with some other partners and they were all discussing a problematic project.. "AHhhhh... Kah Ri Pap la.. just send him there.." Words of wisdom that I remember... I was sent to this project to fire fight.. 7000 defects/ SIRs in total. Cheemology.

There was also this other time where I was sitting in the Singapore office, and this Singapore partner comes up to me and says "Are you Kah Ri Pap ah... eh.. this CYC says you're good, man... Come, pack your bags, you're going to Melbourne.." (That time, I had the cheek to answer "but I only have one spare underwear in my bag...")

Ah.. this partner has invited me to his house to eat "tu kar" (pork legs) and "poh piah"... the memories...

But I guess somehow it is the memories of me working in that firm for 13 years that evoked quite a bit of nostalgia and memories.. which make me wonder if I should ponder my mercernary status...

To this retiring partner, I say Thank You for the memories.