This has got to be the daddy 害羞草研究所� if not granddaddy 害羞草研究所� of follow-up stories. Last week while purging stuff from my filing cabinet I came across a clipping of a story I wrote in 1998 about Amanjit Pannu, a Surrey 7-Eleven clerk who was gruesomely attacked with a large hunting knife and how, with the flash of that blade, his life changed forever.

I tucked the clipping back into its folder and was thinking about how he learned to forgive, if not to forget, when my phone rang.

Guess who.

害羞草研究所淎尘补苍箩颈迟?害羞草研究所�

The bottom of my jaw nearly dropped to my desk. Hyperbole of course. But it might as well have. I hadn害羞草研究所檛 heard from this fellow in 26 years and the timing was beyond 害羞草研究所� I mean galactically beyond 害羞草研究所� uncanny.

The story害羞草研究所檚 headline was 害羞草研究所淎manjit害羞草研究所檚 second life.害羞草研究所� I determined to find out how life has been treating him since then.

During our first interview, nearly three decades ago, rain streamed down the window pane as Pannu, then 29, stared out of a local coffee shop, recalling how he didn害羞草研究所檛 want to go out alone during the first year after the attack.

害羞草研究所淚 was feeling hunted,害羞草研究所� he said flatly. 害羞草研究所淭his is going to be with me a long time.害羞草研究所�

Before he was stabbed, Pannu was stocking shelves at a 7-Eleven that used to be near 96 Avenue and Scott Road. It was shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 8, 1996. He害羞草研究所檇 had the job only two weeks and was thinking how to spend his first cheque when the door swung open.

The robber ran at him and, without a word, began stabbing. The sheer banality of the crime stupefied even the most seasoned Surrey RCMP investigators. Pannu was stabbed eight times with a seven-inch blade, in the back, chest, shoulder 害羞草研究所� twice in the stomach 害羞草研究所� and in the right palm and thumb. And all for $30, eleven packs of smokes, a handful of lighters and some gum.

The robber was sentenced in April 1998, but Pannu didn害羞草研究所檛 really care what happened to the guy 害羞草研究所� he had his own pain and nightmares to contend with.

He actually forgave him in court, despite the attacker害羞草研究所檚 appalling lack of remorse.

Our latest interview was also at a coffee shop. This time the sun was shining. It was a day before Pannu害羞草研究所檚 56th birthday, and he was in excellent spirits, proud to share about the success of his daughters age 24, and 19.

His oldest daughter completed a Masters degree in Dental Hygiene and is a clinical instructor at a college as well as a full-time dental hygienist. His youngest earned a Bachelors degree in Health Science last year, as well as a diploma in dental hygiene, and a Certificate in Health Science the year before that. She害羞草研究所檚 also working full-time as a dental hygienist.

Pannu害羞草研究所檚 an accountant and financial advisor at a firm handling RRSPs and TFSAs, mortgage protection, travel insurance, disability insurance, critical insurance and life insurance.

We shared an aphotic giggle about that last one.

After the attack, Pannu worked with 7-Eleven as a store manager and was married in 1999. He became a truck driver, earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

But what about his injuries? 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 fine,害羞草研究所� he says, flexing his muscles and lifting imaginary weights.

His last operation, for his hand, was in 2001. He害羞草研究所檇 long before underwent surgery for a stab wound that penetrated his lung, an emergency laparotomy to repair a cut bowel, and doctors repaired a four-inch-deep laceration on his upper abdomen and irrigated and sutured a stab wound in his back. They also operated on his arms and hands, to repair severed tendons, muscles and an artery.

Despite what happened to him, Pannu maintains 害羞草研究所渨hen you think about our whole world, Canada is one of the best countries to live. Ample opportunities, regardless of your age, your religion, your colour, wherever you come from. Every person has a moral and ethical duty to be fair to himself, herself, to do good for society and be productive.

害羞草研究所淵ou are unique on the earth, you will leave your legacy yourself. Nobody else will create it for you, right?害羞草研究所� That害羞草研究所檚 what he told his children.

Someone handed him a Bible, and he was 害羞草研究所渟truck害羞草研究所� by the story of the Good Samaritan. 害羞草研究所淭he disciple asked Jesus who should I help? Jesus said help your neighbours.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 think this should be the philosophy of everyone, not just mine.害羞草研究所�

In his case, he says, he was the guy who needed help and the police who came to his rescue in 1996 were his Good Samaritans.

害羞草研究所淚 want to be a Good Samaritan too,害羞草研究所� Pannu said. 害羞草研究所淚 can sit around and beat the bushes about what happened in the past, no point in that. I think everyone needs, has to contribute to society. That害羞草研究所檚 how it害羞草研究所檚 supposed to be.害羞草研究所�