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hi.
this is all about a good friend, Shalom Solomon, who has returned to God’s kingdom as an angel.
Shalom,
its been a while since i heard you laugh man. thats right. that’s the one thing that bound us together as friends in school. we were the kings of laughs. big, hearty, loud laughs. it was SO good, that no one could get irritated, as much as they wanted to.
You’ve always been the Rock at school. Not many people come up to you and talk about politics, serious sports, philosophy and other ‘old people stories’ to a 13 year old teenager. you did. and that caught me off guard. finally, someone who can talk about really good issues and not ‘have you watched doraemon today?’.
my tales of school adventures will never be complete without our laugh-a-ton sessions, complete with me impersonation your booming voice and walk. to the many of whom I’ve related those tales, you’ve been the a person whom they would personally like to meet and make friends with. sadly, they wont get that chance anymore.
just a couple of months ago, we somehow managed to come into contact through Friendster. and what a surprise it was… I’m finally talking to the great Shalom Solomon after many years. and that you sounded just the way i remembered made it even better. i did get news that you were studying for your doctorate in Penang, and wondered, ‘wow, this guy is really getting a head start into his dreams’. I’ve always known you’ll be a doctor someday, but honestly, the doctor i was talking about was of the medical kind. whoa…. an intellectual type…man….that’s even better!
shalom,
your lasts words to me were ‘hey man, we should meet up sometime. I’ll catch you when I’m in KL. take care bro…’
how could i imagine those words would come true, although it was me who’s doing the talking and not you. there, i was, standing by your coffin, talking to a friend whom i hold so dear, making good of the promise you made. we met, i spoke, you seemed to listen to every words i said, and true to your name, stayed peaceful and calm. i could not let that tear roll off, fearing it may smear that smile you had. but deep inside, i was mourning the loss of a friend.
take care of yourself bro. watch over your family when you’re up there with the Lord in His kingdom. i know, someday, we’ll meet again. maybe we could have our long overdue conversation then. what would you like to talk about? politics? geography? history? finance? we’ll have a blast of a time man. looks like I’ll just have to wait.
and to the parents and siblings of Shalom, you’ve been blessed by the presence of a beautiful soul, one that was full of character, love, and strength. god bless you all.
Shalom,
may you find that peace just as you’ve did in your time here.
your friend,
Balamurugan Ramakrishnan
2 Setia (classmate), schoolmate
SMM ACS Seremban
Negri Sembilan
June 5th, 2006 at 1:28 am
4 Responses to “Shalom…a tribute to a good friend”
wow! what a friend he must have been.. hang in there! he’s with you all the way!
June 5, 2006 @ 8:08 pm=)
Shalom,
Words cant describe how I felt when I first heard the news of your sudden demise and that you have finally reached heaven to meet god just like you wanted to..
I’ve known you since the day we were in standard 6 (6 hijau)and the amount of silly things that we used to do..I really had a good time bro..
We were still meeting up when we were in Form 1, especially during the literature session that we used to have on every friday…we really had a good time then together with Bala..hahaha remember the first book we read was Around the World in 80 Days….
However, after that, we do keep in touch from time to time but I’ve always cherished our friendship.
Bala was just mentioning 2 weeks ago that we all should meet up one of these days…
Although I’m unable to meet you now…but someday, i really hope we will…
May the lord bless you..and I believe he will..You will always be remembered by both Bala and me…for the rest of our lives
Your Friend
June 7, 2006 @ 9:12 amDevan
Sek Men Keb ACS
Seremban
Class of 97
Shalom was awesome!!He wasn’t only a friend, he was a brother. It goes without saying how much all of us will miss him.I remember when i first met Shalom and i didnt really like him, infact we hated each others guts. We became friends later on and became buddies after that.I remember when Shalom was a prefect in school, he helped me numerous times with Mr.Lim (all of you in my schoolwill know what i am talking about). I remember when Shalom stood beside me like a rock when i was alone with him and the SPI boys ambushed me.I remember when Shalom gave me some money to eat in the canteen when i didn’t have a single cent having spent all my money without thinking. I remember when Shalom tried to teach me in the mornings before exams with ultimate calmness and understanding. I remember when Shalom told me that no matter what people said or no matter who didn’t believe… he believed in me. Lastly, Shalom,don’t stop looking over me from up there. Still need you,love you man!!
June 8, 2006 @ 4:34 amShalom Solomon, a great soul to be remembered. We were schoolmate since primary one in SRK Sepang, then we met again in SRK ACS, then SMM ACS. I believed that we will meet each other again in God’s heaven.
Chan Hoe
June 11, 2006 @ 2:03 pmClassmate-Schoolmate