The Beginning:
ACS Alternative Old Boys
Association (ACS AOBA)
I wish I could tell you when the
AOBA really got started, but I am not quite sure myself. It was in 1992 when we
really got more organized but it could probably have started much earlier than
that. We presently have a database of over 50 old boys on an active and inactive
list, a web-site and a state of the art communication system (don't
believe everything you read) to remind each other on the coming
rendezvous.
In the initial gatherings, there
wasn't any sort of agenda or purpose other than to pass some time (we
were single then, had lots of time to kill) with
a couple of friends over several cups of caffeine. Come to think of it, it's
still pretty much the same. There isn't any specific reasons why we chose 6th
Avenue, Bonnie's Eating House, other than it was cheap, convenient and had ample
free parking (then anyway).
We were all living around the area
then, and a meet-up was a couple of phone calls and a car away. Over time, the
group kind of grew as we called upon classmates and friends to join in. The word
just got around and here we are. We meet at Bonnie's on the last Thursday of
every month. We usually meet at about 0930pm.
Invitation is opened to anyone from
the old school to pop in. Some guys came out of curiosity, to seek old friends
and rekindle good times. Others come to get away for an hour or two leaving
aside the fancy corporate titles, family and work obligations or whatever and
just hang out with old friends. Those who came and liked it came back. Others
came and went. Sometimes it could be a large group of us, sometimes just a
handful of us. There aren't any rules, no one has any obligations to come, and
we kind of like it that way. Apart from the inches gained around the waist or
the residing forehead of some, we're pretty much the same bunch of guys. We try
to help each other out. Be it employment or a switch in career, the exchange of
information on marriage, parenthood, housing loans, stock market, or whatever. I
guess you know when you are getting old when the main focus of the conversation
is no more on cute girls with the big boobs and the great ass. However, the
topics do occasionally arise. (It's amazing how
other things do take precedence over that, we must be getting old).
We hold no prejudices other than you
leave hidden agendas and the women at home. Not that we have anything against
the women. Some wives, fiancées and enterprising girlfriends whose curiosity
got the better of them, had previously insisted on coming. It was a painful
experience for them as they soon got bored, rolled over and died. As far as they
were concerned, we were just a bunch of delinquent Peter Pans that refused to
grow up. With their blessings, the men came, the women were never to be seen or
heard again. We kind of like it that way. I think some relationships even broke
up after that one fatal meeting. We tend to make quite an impression on them.
Are we ACS OBA members? Some of us
are, and for some of us, well, just procrastinated. I guess we all knew we would
some day. That day seem closer now as we all heard that the fee would be
increased to $500. We have also heard the rumor (we
started) that the membership would be made transferable later on (once
we take control) and we could actually make a quick buck on this.
Are we still able to sing the school
anthem? No problems. Chinese or English version? Forwards or backwards?
Problem is, no one can understand
our Mandarin except for another ACS boy.
So what makes an ACS boy different
from the rest? I don't really know.
What is this big thing about school
spirit, don't really know either.
But I guess we're part of it whether
we know it or not.
What is the difference between OBA
and AOBA?
