Sunday 6 April 2008
Saturday 5 April 2008
very, very unremarkable
We went up on the Singapore Flyer last night. It was memorable only for the fact that it was not.
Wednesday 2 April 2008
it wasn't about the camcorder, it was about you
A's stressed out at work. Which makes me feel bad. I tend to vicariously assume the emotions of others. I think I acquired this empathetic hypersensitivity during my years doing community work. Meeting people as a mentor and having them pour out their hearts and souls to you during counseling sessions tenderizes your own heart and soul; you become porous to others' emotions. That has made me the quintessential SNAG.
So I decided to drop by A's office this evening to pass A the camcorder that I had forgotten to bring along when we met for lunch yesterday. A had asked to loan it in order to record fingering techniques during the cello practise sessions A's been having. And I thought my unexpected appearance would provide some much needed distraction from the travails that had consumed A's entire day. So I timed my arrival this evening to coincide with when I knew A would be going out to get dinner. My approximation of when A'd actually be going for dinner was more precise than I thought. As I was concerned about A's health being affected by stress, I had intended to buy a traditional nutritional drink for A from the hawker centre across the street from the office and then meet A at the office lobby to hand over both the drink and the camcorder. As I headed there, I spotted A right in front of me at one of the stalls at the entrance of the hawker centre, ordering dinner to go. Stress and weariness was written all over A's face. Poor thing. A saw me approaching. I think A displayed more bewilderment than pleasant surprise, which I don't fault. Knowing the intensity of A's ability to focus, A's mind was probably still throbbing in front of the office computer. We bought the drink at a nearby stall together and walked back to the office.
I think we spent less than five minutes together. But for me, the fleeting smile that appeared on A's face when I attempted to crack a joke as we were walking back was worth it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the only time A'd smiled all day. It's a beautiful smile that A has. A texted me later to say my gesture was touching. A's assumption was that I had come down specifically to hand over the camcorder. But the camcorder wasn't the reason for my going down into the heart of the CBD at the height of evening rush hour. I hope to correct that misconception with the title of this post. And I wish things improve for A as the week progresses. Now that would put a smile on my face.
So I decided to drop by A's office this evening to pass A the camcorder that I had forgotten to bring along when we met for lunch yesterday. A had asked to loan it in order to record fingering techniques during the cello practise sessions A's been having. And I thought my unexpected appearance would provide some much needed distraction from the travails that had consumed A's entire day. So I timed my arrival this evening to coincide with when I knew A would be going out to get dinner. My approximation of when A'd actually be going for dinner was more precise than I thought. As I was concerned about A's health being affected by stress, I had intended to buy a traditional nutritional drink for A from the hawker centre across the street from the office and then meet A at the office lobby to hand over both the drink and the camcorder. As I headed there, I spotted A right in front of me at one of the stalls at the entrance of the hawker centre, ordering dinner to go. Stress and weariness was written all over A's face. Poor thing. A saw me approaching. I think A displayed more bewilderment than pleasant surprise, which I don't fault. Knowing the intensity of A's ability to focus, A's mind was probably still throbbing in front of the office computer. We bought the drink at a nearby stall together and walked back to the office.
I think we spent less than five minutes together. But for me, the fleeting smile that appeared on A's face when I attempted to crack a joke as we were walking back was worth it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the only time A'd smiled all day. It's a beautiful smile that A has. A texted me later to say my gesture was touching. A's assumption was that I had come down specifically to hand over the camcorder. But the camcorder wasn't the reason for my going down into the heart of the CBD at the height of evening rush hour. I hope to correct that misconception with the title of this post. And I wish things improve for A as the week progresses. Now that would put a smile on my face.
Tuesday 1 April 2008
of dreams and butterflies
The untoiled field of my dreams has lain fallow for so long I fear it's becoming barren. //
But I'd rather be a butterfly that flutters freely from flower to flower, facilitating creation with its pollinating touch, than a caterpillar whose slow and predetermined path is dictated by the rigid stalk of a single plant. //
But I'd rather be a butterfly that flutters freely from flower to flower, facilitating creation with its pollinating touch, than a caterpillar whose slow and predetermined path is dictated by the rigid stalk of a single plant. //