Eulogy for the Double Eyes

By twist of fate, my life has become intertwined with many individuals who carry the acronym double I. A minutia of my life you couldn't be bothered with, perhaps; but one that brings me a sense of awe over the lucent coincidence that takes form in many lives (namely mine). I take the liberty of coining my own affectionate term for these five people I am sharing/have shared paths with: double eye.


Each double eye, to me, is important and certainly unique in their own right. Notwithstanding my use of eulogy in the title, they are all, alive and healthy, I hope. To say this is a curt tribute to them would not be apt, since two I do not know well enough to be given the privilege to trespass their lives. Instead, let this be my way of reaching out and saying hello to each of them, wherever they are, whatever they're doing.

Meet double eye #1, mother of mine. It is in fact, from reading my mom's recent letter that I am reminded of the especial double eyes I know in my life. On the subject of my mother, I rejoice her re-entry into the world of writing, her re-route to the passage of powerful words and her re-assertion of her two cents upfront. Although I was fed with animated accounts of her adventurous days serving in the media force, I could never truly feel pride of having had a journalist for a mother because my image of her were tainted with a crumbling, depressed one.

I reckon it is my gain on perspective and maturity, and increasing interest in a field that once belonged to her that I now see a side of my mother that merits reverence if not admiration. Yes, now the wheels are turning for me and for her both; her gears moving backward, and mine, forward. Now I see there is a long journey ahead of me until I can dream of becoming half as good a writer as she. Her comments are cogent, her passages, succinct, and her flair certainly apparent. Now, now I am appreciative of her and the inevitable attraction to words that she has borne me with; though again, I can only try.

Double eye #2 not only shares a very similar name as my mother, but also the prowess in prose. It is by sheer coincidence that I chanced upon this young lad's blog, and certainly even better fortune that I have gotten fairly acquainted with him. Perpetually writing captivating stories, insightful verses, and amusing anecdotes that never fails to bring a smile to my face, he is truly something else. A thousand miles between us, we are connected only by the miracles of the blogosphere and facebook; yet my instinct tells me he has a beautiful persona inside out. I may or may not get to know this friend much better; but what is sure is that his cleverly-spun stories will be something I'll hold on to for as long as he continues to pen and touch the lives of many others.

One of my closest friends happens to be double eye #3. Living in a boarding school does this to you: it takes you fresh and naive, lends you time to meet talented individuals from all walks of life (and learn something from each and everyone of them), and leaves you with a canon of friends, but only a handful of good friends you want to keep for life. Rest assured--as attested by the four years out of high school that our friendship has prevailed and in fact strengthened to the point of no return--that she is definitely for keeps. She has been one of my partners in crime (read: gossiping), my keeper of secrets and my safe choice for a day out, and always will be.

Double eye #4 is technically a triple I, but the notion of sets in mathematics would bring you to my logic that Idazureen Ismas Ismail belongs in the subset of double eyes. Ida is a girl whom I've seen blossomed so much over the past years. She is caring, sweet, and bright, a down-to-earth girl who is always there, like a tattoo on your arm. I say tattoo because sometimes you just forget that it is there, but it's always faithfully there, leaping to your attention when there is a need. And that is Ida for although we do not keep in touch as often as we ought to, she is one I'd turn to for some things personal, and vice versa. I wish you happiness every step along the way, love.

I sadly express here that there seems to be an unwanted hiatus (as friction may be too harsh a term) on my friendship with double eye #5. Or at least, that is how it feels on my part. As I thread on this (apparently) unsteady grounds of the 3 year friendship we have built, I accord some of our meaningful conversations to his being a good listener and possessing mature opinions. And I thank him for that. A brother to me in many ways, I am optimistic that he will come around. Eventually.

Who knows how many more double eyes I'll come across in the near future? Perhaps none, leaving me with these five to cherish, perhaps more than a dozen. For me, it is a haunting need and satisfying effort to take a step back and ponder about the different people you meet and see how their presence touches your life. Celebrate life and all it's glory in fate, kismet and coincidences we should.