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Excess baggage

Just the other day, I came to know of a guy who actually grew up around where my parents are currently residing. Being the sentimental fool that I am, my first instinct was to dig in to enquire about his younger days. As a typical Indian Malaysian would do, the impulse is to find a common friend or relative and then seal the bond, call him for dinner and see how things develop on. But then, something said, "WAIT!"....
Not everyone likes to live in the past. Some may have unnecessary baggage that they just like to leave behind and start life anew. This seems relevant as this guy had embraced another religion and dons a new name.
Not every guy is like Alex Haley who went through great pains to trace his ancestry and lineage all the way to his first ancestors from Liberia who lay foot in America. Of course, we all know the end product as the best seller and smashing TV series 'Roots'.
If curiosity could kill the cat, I, being a cat lover of late, took the plunge to break the ice when I happened to meet him casually. It turned out that he actually moved out from Brown Garden long before we moved in the 80s. Amma would know his family. I just left it at that.....
The same people who say put the past in the behind and put your right foot out to face the future also say one who does not remember where he came from will not reach where he is going to!
Alex Haley and 'Roots': Lance Armstrong of Literature 

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