Observing Things While On My Own
It has been a rather memorable night. I was at a drama performance in a almost non-arty part of Singapore. It was good, and I felt as if I was in a very exclusive group of people as I approached the theatre. Makde up mostly of young adults between 18 - 30something, the crowd also consists of some good mix of people from different skin colour and of more mature age. The group look really exclusive. You know, the kind that are not your regular work-hard-for-the-money kinda Singaporeans I felt like I was in some secret gathering. I felt "cool" :) But what really made this night memorable are the before and after moments I had.
Lets recall what I did before.
Whenever I am going to an event that is new, or fairly unique (to me), I always have this habit of concocting ideas that people taking the same transport as me are heading the same route as me. Dunno why.
So at the bus stop, I began to look around for people who may be heading the same way as I am going. There was a lady in lacy white top, jeans with matching lace belt and heels waiting at the bus stop who caught my attention. She doesn't look like she is going to a low profile theatre. Well, lo and behold, when the bus came, she board the bus and alighted at the same bus stop as I did.
The bus went along the route where I used to take transportation the Previous Church (PC). Nothing much has changed since. When it did pass PC, I saw a group of teenagers playing captains ball at the open carpark. "The famous group game there," I recalled. "Looks like the youth group is doing good."
It has been so long...
Then there was also a pair of blokes. Typically, I would classify them as "Path Sg Men". They also alight at the same bus stop as I.
Hmmm.....
Ok, so I was among this particular exclusive group. It was good that the performance started not long after I arrived, so I do not need to be uncomfortable all by myself :) It was interactive drama, so audience participation is part of the game. Half way through the performance, I notice those 2 "Path Sg Men" left the room. Didn't see them come back again.
After the performance, I walked to the train station on my own. The route is a familiar one, for it used to be the same path I take with people from PC whenever we finish our lunch after Sunday service. Walking on it brings back some memories, and some thoughts that all this has became a past for me.
Walk on somemore. It's a long walk. I continue to reflect on what used to be on this Sunday route. When I was about to reach the bus stop at the station, I was half hoping that I will meet the couple whom I have match-made there, maybe at the coffeeshop or what. Half-hoping, because I do not know what I will say if we do meet. And something in me what to see how are they now.
They were not found there, but I caught sight of a group people who were at the performance just now, sipping coffee at the coffeeshop. They left at the feedback session, but did ask some questions about the performance. I pretend to look ahead and not look at them.
At the station platform, I walk to the spot where I normally wait for the train if I am alone, cos it's nearer to the escalator at my station. Think. Think.
Train came. As scenes that used to be so familiar sweep by, flurry of thoughts came up.
Why did I take the longer route to go to another big church when the PC is only 2 train stops away?
Distance... Even if it near, the human to human distance is far away. What is the point?
Is it time I go back? It will be quite a scene to behold. I will have to repeat my answers to questions on why they have not been seeing me. Then I may have to tell them the story in half-lie, half-truth. I will go to service, but I will not attend prayer meetings, or business meetings. I will not serve.. Yadda, yadda, yadda...
Reach my home station. As I go up the escalator, I saw the 2 "Path Sg Men" who left the show earlier, coming down from the steps. So they spent the rest of their night here...
It's about 11 plus. Saw that guy (Tommy Wee) who was on "A light moment" show holding a girl's hand. He saw that I was looking at him and looked back. So I looked away. Hmm... interesting. This plaza very good for pak-tor?
Walked home. On the way, I counted no less than 6 couples who were strolling, waiting for buses, or just holding hands and talking. Made a mental note not to go home at this hour of the night ever again.
I look at them and smile to myself. So happy. So 幸福。
The journey back home resumed, but not with some additional feeling of "imbalance".
Lets recall what I did before.
Whenever I am going to an event that is new, or fairly unique (to me), I always have this habit of concocting ideas that people taking the same transport as me are heading the same route as me. Dunno why.
So at the bus stop, I began to look around for people who may be heading the same way as I am going. There was a lady in lacy white top, jeans with matching lace belt and heels waiting at the bus stop who caught my attention. She doesn't look like she is going to a low profile theatre. Well, lo and behold, when the bus came, she board the bus and alighted at the same bus stop as I did.
The bus went along the route where I used to take transportation the Previous Church (PC). Nothing much has changed since. When it did pass PC, I saw a group of teenagers playing captains ball at the open carpark. "The famous group game there," I recalled. "Looks like the youth group is doing good."
It has been so long...
Then there was also a pair of blokes. Typically, I would classify them as "Path Sg Men". They also alight at the same bus stop as I.
Hmmm.....
Ok, so I was among this particular exclusive group. It was good that the performance started not long after I arrived, so I do not need to be uncomfortable all by myself :) It was interactive drama, so audience participation is part of the game. Half way through the performance, I notice those 2 "Path Sg Men" left the room. Didn't see them come back again.
After the performance, I walked to the train station on my own. The route is a familiar one, for it used to be the same path I take with people from PC whenever we finish our lunch after Sunday service. Walking on it brings back some memories, and some thoughts that all this has became a past for me.
Walk on somemore. It's a long walk. I continue to reflect on what used to be on this Sunday route. When I was about to reach the bus stop at the station, I was half hoping that I will meet the couple whom I have match-made there, maybe at the coffeeshop or what. Half-hoping, because I do not know what I will say if we do meet. And something in me what to see how are they now.
They were not found there, but I caught sight of a group people who were at the performance just now, sipping coffee at the coffeeshop. They left at the feedback session, but did ask some questions about the performance. I pretend to look ahead and not look at them.
At the station platform, I walk to the spot where I normally wait for the train if I am alone, cos it's nearer to the escalator at my station. Think. Think.
Train came. As scenes that used to be so familiar sweep by, flurry of thoughts came up.
Why did I take the longer route to go to another big church when the PC is only 2 train stops away?
Distance... Even if it near, the human to human distance is far away. What is the point?
Is it time I go back? It will be quite a scene to behold. I will have to repeat my answers to questions on why they have not been seeing me. Then I may have to tell them the story in half-lie, half-truth. I will go to service, but I will not attend prayer meetings, or business meetings. I will not serve.. Yadda, yadda, yadda...
Reach my home station. As I go up the escalator, I saw the 2 "Path Sg Men" who left the show earlier, coming down from the steps. So they spent the rest of their night here...
It's about 11 plus. Saw that guy (Tommy Wee) who was on "A light moment" show holding a girl's hand. He saw that I was looking at him and looked back. So I looked away. Hmm... interesting. This plaza very good for pak-tor?
Walked home. On the way, I counted no less than 6 couples who were strolling, waiting for buses, or just holding hands and talking. Made a mental note not to go home at this hour of the night ever again.
I look at them and smile to myself. So happy. So 幸福。
The journey back home resumed, but not with some additional feeling of "imbalance".
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