i was browsing folders and found this picture which joel had taken at changi airport in the august of 1999, when i was leaving for virginia for the first time. all the boys still have army haircuts that are growing out (actually joel's hair looks quite long in the picture, doesn't it? but then he was out of the army for a bit because of the slipped disc, wasn't he? or was that a different year? hm) and i can see fay standing in her shorts, behind minyin, and i remember she had just come from a boxercise class. addy and i inevitably next to each other and gee my hair was short once! and von sticking his elbows everywhere. yen peeking out at the back what were you doing at the back darling?! and choonping's massive smile! and there we all were fresh out of school and i was going off to america for the first time and fanfare there was much and here i am, five years later, older and fatter and positively stupider and with only poach to blow her nose and wave hankies at me at changi but nonetheless a lot gladder to be 24 than 19. anyway this photo gives me a warm chummy feeling so here it is for the rest of you too.