ByGone

Happened to glance at some old photos when...



Isiuchi - Japan


1998


I was eight then.


It would be the second time I ever skiied.


Sorry but this is not another traumatizing experience of mine in which I almost lost a body part or something.


But.. In a way it is kinda umm.. similar?


The inn was quite nice.


Our family of five slept together in one big room covered with tatami mats.


We slept on seperate mattresses. The bath was also supposed to be shared.


I didn't like that but we never bathed together anyways >.<


AnYwAY


I met the son of the inn. He was around my age.


And I swore then he looked exactly like my next-door-neighbour.


I believed for that week that there possibly was someone out there who looks just the same as I do.


And.. we became good friends.


Thought there was the language barrier.. umm.. I guess handsignals and actions were good enough to get us by. =D


Their family was really really nice, and I spent many an evening watching tv in their suite.


(How cool was that!! haha.)


I can't remember much now.. but I do remember buying him a huge, nice and cuddly soft-tiger-toy on the day before we left the inn.


That very night, they came knocking at our door, and presented us back with tokens of appreciation.


Three very nice large stickers and... an electronic game device.


Now as you can imagine back then those stuff were quite expensive as they were the in thing then.


And their family wasn't exactly too well-to-do.


But yet that boy gave it to me.


Thinking back now almost brings back tears.


To repay someone in kind, even though they have not much to offer and probably do not know the Way.


I.. just can't imagine that heartache.. it's like.. giving away your ipod to some guy who gave you a watch.


heh..


And we were friends for barely a week.


burr..


I'll probably never ever meet him again.


I don't think I'd even recognise him anymore.


But the memory?


-That'll stay.

Ever.