In the long run, I am horrible at keeping in touch with those who matter to me.
This is primarily due to my belief that friendship comes without conditions, which include the condition of "keeping in touch". We can all come and go freely, and I don't want to hinder anyone's wish to leave and live his/her life. Vise versa, if our friendship were true, then you should not be bothered by my silence.
With that said, I understand it is unorthodox and perhaps a little cold.
So, I just want to say that you still inspire me and are with me through every decision. Here are some things unsaid...
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To my cousin, I am sorry I haven't attempted any genuine communication in years. I still have the last letter you sent; it's tucked away somewhere safe. Some nights, I think of the mountains we climbed, sitting atop looking at the winding rivers and valley below. At any sight of natural beauty, anywhere in the world, I imagine you with me.
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To Tom Magnussen, what can I say, it was a wonderful year full of memories.
The nightly roadtrip we did to Seattle, Knight and Day in North Vancouver, and Squamish.
Trying to nail Kevin for the money he stole from both our rooms. The ATM picture was priceless. You praying to God that I would live when I was near death.
I never wanted to admit it, but the night you went to Squamish by yourself, I was terribly jealous!
Your Ikea coffee table is still in my living room.
I called your mom again after you returned to Japan, but I moved numerous times afterwards. So, you probably can't find me. Maybe when life slows down a bit, I will look you up.
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To Mutsue, if I could choose a sister, it would be you! Oh my god, where do I begin?
Camping and hiking along the Oregon and California coast was interesting! We nearly fell off the cliff and died, but it would have been worth it. Next time, we will leave Mika behind. She is too fragile.
The Kelowna, Jasper, Banff and Columbia Icefield Parkway trip was even more interesting. The hikes were amazing, Athabasca Falls, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, the vineyards, sneaking into campsites to use the showers, me fighting with Hideo in Kelowna, the four of us sleeping in a 2 person tent, and waking up freezing cold in Jasper.
The Vancouver Island / Tofino trip was too short. The car we rented was a piece of crap, and I am sorry I took the wrong turn and ended up going in the wrong direction for 2 hours.
The weekly Lighthouse park hikes with you and Ken. I tried going back there after you left, it just wasn't the same.
The nightly singing and drinking parties at our place. We put our roommates through hell.
I would choose you to travel the world with!
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To Hideo, I am sorry for fighting with you in Kelowna. The important thing is we made up! Thank you for grabing the flaming tree branch to light my cigarette. That was a sweet gesture. I still tell people about you and I sleeping in the elements in the middle of nowhere, with no sleeping bags, blankets, or a tent. I hope you enjoyed that experience.
Oh, and you are great at parking a truck and the most incredible softball player on our team!
You emailed me so long ago, but my email address changed, and I don't know how to reach you again.
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To Leon, yikes....
What can I say, I am so sorry. I was young, immature, and didn't understand what you wanted. You did everything right, and I did everything wrong.
Thank you for coming with me to Northern BC and trusting me enough to drive in the hail and total darkness :)
After hurting you, I decided that I couldn't do the same to anyone else. Thank god I learnt this young.
If I see you again, I would still be too embarrassed at myself to say Hello.
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To Jaime, I miss you.
We've known each other for nine years. I've said everything I wanted to say to you.
Those daily nine, ten hour phone conversations kept me sane during a difficult time. I cost you a fortune. It must have been difficult to be doing medical school and cattering to my whims at the same time.
If we were good at one thing, it was discussing things in life that don't really matter to most people.
I should have taken the trip to New York when I had the chance. It's too late now. But, I carry you in my spirit.
I'll email you after I come back from my February trip, like I promised.
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To Kay, you bug me too much about seeing you and keeping in touch! Now that you are in Trail, I have a good excuse!
My mom loves you to death, and that's rare. She must see a bit of herself in you....the good bit of course. She still wants to adopt you.
We pretty much grew up together...losing our hair over the IB program in school, those 4:30am drives to UBC, experimentation in cooking exotic foods, going to SFU together, going through anxiety issues during exam time, stealing bags and bags full of pop bottles from the softball team, our painting business in high school, the charity we co-founded, your wedding, your son...
You brought extra lunch for me in school, and that was very motherly. You've always called me a "wandering soul", and that term has never left me.
I will email you with the update of my trip in February!
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To Andy, I am not sure why we lost touch.
After I met my fiance, you sort of disappeared. Perhaps it was my fault, but I don't remember.
We tried, it was weird, but we tried. It was by far the shortest relationship I've ever had - whole 16 hours. We were much better as friends.
I haven't returned to Salmon House since, but I want to go back. The view of the city was amazing, and the dessert didn't hurt either.
I always felt that I was your therapist, maybe that's why it would have never worked out. You and I in the mist on Burnaby Mountain at 3 o'clock in the morning is etched in my mind. I've never given such a long therapy session before. The sleepover at your place downtown was odd, but thanks for teaching me MahJong with such patience.
Someone told me that you were hurt after I met my fiance. You should have known it wouldn't have make a difference. You should have stayed, and I would have loved your friendship.
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To Chris, the fatherly advices were getting to me, and that's why I never called you back. I realize now that you just cared.
Running into you at BCIT was nice. You left your number, but I never called. Sorry!
You were kind of an odd ball, but we shared good experiences! Thanks for hiking and climbing with me, playing tennis when I lost my partner, bring me that bottle of Crown Royale for my birthday, and making me Sushi at Kishapopo.
I think in a lot of ways, I was too young then to see that you wanted the best for me.
Still! Your constant pestering was threatening my freedom. Today, I might have reacted more tactfully.
If I see you at BCIT again, I will say Hello.
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Finally, to Rob MacKenzie, we travelled and still do travel the world together...
Getting sick in Mozambique for two days after eating the crabs was horrifying, but you held my hair back every single time I vomitted. The 3 day fever I had on the train in Russia, the slipped disc I had after falling off the horse in Mongolia, the twisted ankle I had after tripping on the way down to Lake Titicaca, the freaky diving accident on Roatan, Honduras that knocked me unconcious....I injured myself all over the world, and you didn't mind patching me up! Thank God you are a true expert survivalist!
I wish I could be with you now, but I am definitely coming in December for the Thailand trip. The ticket is already booked! I hope you like the quote I sent you about Macchu Picchu!
I never said this to you before, but thank you for never expecting anything more of me than someone to share unbelievable experiences with.
I will see you in February when you come back! We will go for better food this time.
