I am on a high. I have my head in the clouds after just coming back from my monthly Toastmaster chapter meeting where I had given a speech...SO HERE IT GOES!!!WHOOPEE!!!...
Speech Project 6: Army Daze (Subtitled: The Blue Dolphin)
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I always believe, that in the journey of a toastmaster, especially for a male Singaporean, he will have to do this someday. That is, to give a speech about his National Service life. I think it is because there is always so much to talk about, and learn from it. But I will try to keep my story about my army days short. That I promise.
Another reason why I am doing this is that this year actually marks a milestone in my army life. I have just completed my ten years cycle of national service, having just served my last in-camp training in March. And I truly felt a great sense of accomplishment. Even if we spend most of our time sitting around, waiting, waiting…but that is a story for another day.
Today, for my army day’s story, it will begin with a blue dolphin and ends with a blue dolphin. So here it goes…
The blue dolphin sat comfortably on top of the television set as if it has always been there. Washed and dusted, even its white underbelly gleamed like snow. Such was its small physical size that it also served as a mockery to its drawing power. It is also partly for this reason that I feel compelled to talk about it, since its appearance a few years ago during my ICT. The blue dolphin was initially the butt of the jokes among the mates due to its feminine nature. With its light and soft attributes, it was thrown around the bunk for a cuddle or head rub, binding us heart and soul, with laughter and joy. All these were done with its owner beaming with pride and approval; he who was a bunkmate known by the name of “Wee”. Wee is someone we would call a happy go lucky guy who would go to almost any extent to make our stay a comfortable and breezy one. He was also our unofficially appointed “Head of Welfare” with all the jokes to keep our spirit up, and bringing in the blue dolphin was another of his way of doing so.
We came together one last time in March. Time passes but there are always familiar faces and great memories. It felt like a part of our lives had come to a full circle and it was time to take stock before moving on. We said good-by to those days spent with the sand blowing in our faces and the physical exhaustion of field training under the hot sun. But something precious has stay behind, which I guess would accompany us for the rest of our lives. We talked and reflected on how we had pulled through and arrived at this point – ten years of NS. Our eyes fell on the blue dolphin. Now, you may have guessed correctly by now that it is a stuff toy. It now has the name of our unit – 465 SAR - and the period of our last in-camp written on its belly. It was then that we recognised the treasure we share; the comradeship and togetherness, all symbolised by the blue dolphin.
Indeed there are lessons to be learnt in every story. For my story, I have learnt that our human spirit prevails when the going gets tough. We learn to see the bright side of things, to lean on each other through the darkest of hours. Even though at times in the rain and soaked to our socks, with warm smiles, funny faces or jokes; the worst of thunderstorms would seem to be driven away. At the end of it all, the hardships of trainings are even retold with pride. It was our spirit that kept us going together.
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I don't know whether I can sleep tonight. But I have the The Kite Runner to finish with a review pending as the loan expires.
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