It's time for a resolution. They say only a donkey makes the same mistake twice or three times. Knowing myself and resolution were never quite see eye to eye over the years, this year I'm going to be realistic. No need to be idealistic or dramatic. My resolution is going to be practical, pragmatic, matter-of-fact, stick to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. My resolution is 1366 by 768. Happy New Year!
One fine Saturday. Having coffee and cakes. Sitting at a round table, listening to a conversation in a terrace with tall handsome trees in the background. A cat gracefully jumped on the table and walked over cups and cakes! I get nervous around cat. Maybe even a cat phobia. First it circled the table and everyone on the table stroke it or pat it or baby talk to it except me. Then it stopped right in front of me. Staring. I got more nervous. I avoided eye contact. Then it made another round and this the time the cat wouldn't take no for an answer. While I again avoided eye contact it slowly walked on to my lap as if it knows I would probably screamed if it jumped unexpectedly. I gasped and froze. Speechless. Cat got your tongue?
I know how to ride a bike. It's just the thought of falling off a bike that scares the living daylights out of me. Dena says I pay too much attention to past time and future time that I forget to live in the present time. All this time I have missed the joy and the energy I get from a morning wind kissing my face when I ride my bike! So I put Bumblebee (Yup! my bike has a name) right by the front door as a daily reminder that it's not my past or my future that defines my present, but it's my present that defines my past and future.
One fine afternoon in McD. "Here, tante Tina, for you!" said Marvin, my little nephew. He handed me a toy from his Happy Meal. "Why thank you, Marvin," I said, "How nice of you. Santa will be so proud of you!" Not to be outdone by his big brother, Maureen looked at her toy, put it down on her lap, then looked at me and said, "Tante Tina, you don't need two penguins but I want to say that you are a nice person." LOL
Stubborn injured left heel leads to a lot of swimming days instead of running days. Twenty nine days and counting. During which: I discovered that swimming long distance is as meditative as running, I was made aware that I can listen to the rhythm of my body courtesy of Diwin Hartono, I was taught by my chiropractor how to spoil my spine (Sit up straight, both feet on the ground, no cross legs, no slouching. Stand up tall, shoulder back) and I got rid of my bike phobia (Signed, sealed and delivered by Love). Every cloud has a silver lining. Looking forward to more discoveries about me, myself and I. Let's play!
One fine Friday afternoon in a supermarket. A young mom carried a baby with a baby harness. Keeping her baby busy with a rattle. Picking up groceries. Her little girl, riding a shopping cart, trailing a little bit behind her. But whenever mom picked up something from the supermarket isle, the little girl sped her cart right next to her mom, took whatever mom had on her hand and arranged it neatly in the shopping cart. No yelling. No sour face. No tantrum. No nanny nannies. No gadget. And yup, they are Indonesians.
A wacky Wednesday. Six regular toll booths. Two automatic toll booths with prepaid card. Feeling rather smug to pass a very long queue of cars lining up for the regular booths. Felt like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz because the lanes that leads to the automatic toll booths was painted with fat yellow stripes. Out of the toll gate in no time. My wicked grin quickly turned into sour frown when I found out the eight lanes exit are merged into four lanes! Total chaos. Darn!%$# Patience is a virtue. Breath in. Breath out. Beautiful blue sky.
A slow Monday in a mobile network operator office. "Four, zero, eight, two. Go to counter number eight," an automated voice over a PA system calling out customers. Repeatedly. Loudly. A digital 4082 in blinking lights on the counter. A customer service occasionally yelled out a number repeatedly. I couldn't even concentrate reading a newspaper and this mom next to me made her little girl do her math homework! Mom got upset when her little girl was more interested in numbers around her instead of numbers in her book. Seriously?
One lovely lazy Friday evening in a bookstore. I found only one out of two books by Ratih Kumala. I looked around for help. Bookstore guy #1, not too far away from me, casually leaning to a bookshelve reading something. Bookstore guy #2, a little further away, doing some inventory check. I have a weak heart for people who read. Guy #2 helped me while Guy #1 kept on reading without missing a beat. Totally oblivious to customer distress. Never hire a bookworm in a bookstore.
"Aku paling suka tiba di sebuah kota pada pagi hari. Pagi selalu menahan perasaan, memperlambat segala sesuatu, murah hati dengan fakta. Ia menerangi dengan perlahan, lapis demi lapis, hingga kota hadir bukan sebagai sesuatu yang jadi, melainkan sesuatu yang belum final, yang masih bisa dibentuk, penuh kemungkinan." Laksmi Pamuntjak
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano. A sound mind in a sound body. Thank you knees. Thank you ankles. Thank you heels. Thank you arms. Forgive me for not listening to all of you. For being a no-pain-no-gain-dictator. I am the cause of my own infirmity. From now on I'm going to listen to all of you and find a balance that connect mind & body. We are going to be just fine Awesome! Let's play! Eer... whenever you guys are ready.
One lovely moody and lazy Sunday in IKEA cafe. A guy slept on a chair peacefully. Never mind the noisy crowd. His table was full of empty plates, bottles, cups and glasses. I think he fell asleep while he was eating with his family because he has a sleeping disorder. Every time he feels happy he falls to sleep immediately. His family deliberately made him the happiest man on earth then left him for more shopping. Can you top my imagination? Spongebob will be so proud of me.
It's not even my birthday and it's too early for Christmas. My lower back wants to give you a big hug, my right shoulder wants to kiss you, and my spine wants to move in with you. You are awesome Awesome! I love you from your toes to your face!
A lovely lazy warm Sunday morning at a pool. Three Japanese dads with their children. One was tanning with a boy. One was busy picking up toys after two little boys. One was jumping in and out of the pool with a little girl. No mommies. No nannies.
One lovely Saturday morning walk in GBK. I was just wondering what was it about this morning that made everything seemed nice (perfect weather, not too crowded, happy faces everywhere) when I saw a bubble man. Dressed in black shirt and khaki pants. He had a moustache, a long white goatees and a white peci. To a boy who asked eagerly, "Can I try?" he said harshly, "No! Only if you buy." You should've seen the little boy's face.
Things to do while I wait for my heel to heal; sleep in, more swimming, eat brownies for breakfast, movie marathon, stay up late, kiwi mojitos, dinner dates, rearrange my books by color, do a one thousand piece puzzle, write and send Dena letters, make a running shirt out of old t-shirt, make your own running shirt. When life throws lemon, make lemonade.
One lovely night at a packed concert hall. Tulus! A lot of people around me rather captured him in digital form than seeing the actual artist. Live, in person, right in front of you, with your own two eyes, singing his heart out to you, talking to you, engaging you in a conversation. If only you look up. He's better in person than in byte. Really!
