Random Thoughts

Since I completed my translation project last Thursday (20 January), I've been out of the house practically every day. It was as if it was payback time. It appeared as though I've been released from the shackles of imprisonment and insanity. In actual fact, it was "imprisonment" the last 4 months as I was not able to go anywhere (unless it was a matter of life and death, as a matter of fact, I lost my father-in-law in the midst of my translation assignment) and was hospitalized for a week for a bout of severe asthma attack.

Hence, the minute I completed the translation, it was a huge relief. It was as if the world's problems were cleared from my shoulders.

In any case, since Friday, 21 January, I've been going out, either for appointments with friends or with my husband and family. It feels really good. It may sound crazy, but it's been a record week for me. I've been going out for 7 consecutive days.

Last Friday, 28 January, yet again, I took the train to meet my friends, some of whom I've not met the last 16 years. It felt really good.

Malaysian Apathy - hugely overstated
And since I no longer had Kedah Civil Service polluting my brain, I had more time to enjoy the surroundings, and made several interesting observations. When I was in the train, I felt really proud of a young fellow Malaysian commuter who gave up her seat for an almost-term pregnant lady who was with her young daughter. Kudos to her!! And if I thought that Malaysian apathy is still rearing its ugly head, I was once again proven wrong.

When I alighted from the train, there was a blind man, who was obviously groping his way. And, without hesitation, a man guided him to the escalator.

I was left to my thoughts as I crossed the road towards the KLCC train line. And again I was happy to see a construction worker holding the elbows of a blind man from the Sri Petaling station and brought him across the KLCC line station at Masjid Jamek. Hey, who says Malaysians are indifferent???

And I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw yet another blind man being guided up the LRT staircase by someone. Now, that's 4 cases of exemplary Malaysians that I saw within a span of 10-15 minutes. This bode well for our society. Kudos to the three men and young lady!!!

The power of advertisement
When I was in the train, I was seated next to a little girl and her mum, and as the train rumbled along, suddenly I heard the little girl screaming in glee!! At first I could not make out what she was saying, but later realised that she was pointing to a Mr Potato advertisement. She kept exclaiming, "Mummy, mummy!!! That's your potato!!!". Most of the passengers (me included) were trying our best to contain our laughter. I can bet you that the girl's mum LOVES Mr Potato!!!

And I fully understood the power of advertisement when a little boy who was holding his mum's hand stopped in his tracks, and kept pointing to yet another Mr Potato advertisement. "Mummy! Mummy!! I want that. I want Mr Potato!" And his mum kept cajoling him that she'll buy it for him later. And as I passed by the boy and his mum, I had to stifle my laughter, when the boy suddenly blurted, "Mummy, mummy, do you have money to buy Mr Potato?" Children, they are so innocent, and they are such joy to be with!!!

Help!!! My baby is falling!!!
And, still chuckling and feeling amused with the scene before me, I walked along heading towards KLCC as I was supposed to meet my friends, some of whom I've not met for 16 years. And this time, I was really tickled pink when I saw a pregnant lady (she was perhaps 5 to 6 months pregnant). She was clutching her lower abdomen, holding it for her dear life as she walked. I've seen pregnant ladies doing this a couple of times, where they would clutch their lower abdomen, it was as if they were worried that their foetus would fall off their uterus. I guess, that's what you'd call maternal instinct.

And with all these random happenings crossing my thoughts today, I embraced my long-lost friends. It was so good to see them again after all these years.