Saturday, December 24, 2016
Joon was a good friend of mine whom I met at college in Korea. I remember him to be a calm and generous man. He was friendly so it was always pleasant and comfortable to be around him. He was talented in many fields: rock climbing, hiking, ping pong, tennis, and card games.
Joon-ah,
Two years ago, I visited Korea for the first time in forty years. During my ten day trip to Korea, I went to a reunion and saw our class of 1970 sociology-major classmates again, though I did not see you since you were in North America. They suggested I get a smart phone and added me to the class’s Kakao Talk group. Around June of this year through Kakao Talk, I learned that you were being treated for cancer, but was getting better. The last time I saw you was 30 some years ago when you visited me in Virginia with your newlywed wife. I thought you would recover soon and that I would maybe see you again for a second time.
I have lived here with a frozen memory of Korea like you. I especially remember the fun times during our four years in college together with our other close friends. I still remember your mother and your house in Korea, but I didn’t get to see your children growing up in Canada. I don’t know them and they don’t know me. We used to be so close in Korea, but after moving to America, sadly we grew more distant but were still content with our own lives.
When we get old we tend to cherish the memories of our younger days more. I remember how you always struggled to serve in your tennis tournament games, but you managed to come back and win in the end. I remember when you proudly told me about your week-long winter hiking trip and how you survived the dangerous snowy mountain eating snow cones sprinkled with orange flavored sugar powder, and also having to wipe your butt with the snow because there was no toilet paper. I remember laughing hard my belly started to hurt when you told me this story. All these memories with you are so precious to me.
I should express more sympathy to your wife and family members, but I would rather address you and relive our old stories together. We waited for 42 years since we last saw each other in Korea, so I am not afraid of waiting a few more years to talk to you over there in heaven. So long Joon-ah, till we meet again.
Sungjoo Park from Alexandria, Virginia
