Goodbye Jimmy

For the man who always asked me to put on more make-up...

He always scolded me for not having enough make up on even though I had put on more black eye shadow that I ever used.

For the man who always insisted on lashes for his shows...

I remember the time I tried to avoid seeing when I forgot to bring lashes. Big mistake.

For the man who always had the glitziest and shiniest costumes...

Who can possibly forget the sequins?

For the man who spoke to me more than a choreographer...

I remember the time when he was worrying if I got enough and the time he spoke about his personal life backstage.

For the man whom I didn't get to know better...

I never got to know him enough. It was always rehearsals, show and home. In my memory, he was always lively and bubbly, always full of energy and running around getting dancers ready, costumes sorted out, show organised, putting on impeccable make-up, with lashes that would beat all the other female dancers.

Perhaps that's why my tears felt like falling when I saw his cold body lying in a coffin wearing a make-up of another kind. That's not the Jimmy I remembered. Even if I didn't know him that well, it still shocked me and made me sad to hear of the news. It was so sudden...I was just thinking of calling him up recently...

I would like to say goodbye and rest in peace...

Goodbye Jimmy.

Jimmy Newton Lim

(February 13, 1969 - June 7, 2008)