Jhender

for my reference

Today on the train
1. a pair of similar looking sisters sitting across from me, same
mannerisms, legs crossed to the right, long rebonded hair, duh
handbags, same shoe shoe shape in different designs, same skirt
length. are we so similar to others?

2. middle-aged half balding man sits down next to me with a
nondescript briefcase, packed with some documents for a presentation
or conference – obscure uses for the ubiquitous Microsoft Word in
little events all around the world. or hey. OpenOffice

3. the train conductor(but there isn’t any), the train voice barks
raspily over the speakers that the train doors are opening.

Caislean oir.

4. a lady in matching grey jacket and pants, prancing horse bag,
sullen pockmarked face unblemished by foundation.

5. puffy cheek man holding mail addressed to Leow Ah Heng. I’d rather
be called ji-an than that, thank you very much.

6. man in brown shirt brown shoes brown esprit belt brown buffel
wallet but a pale canvas slingbag doh.

7. isn’t it so characteristic of our capitalistic society that the
prerequisite for taking the taxi is affordability rather than need. a
rich tai tai takes taxis, a business person takes the taxi, an old
person who is not rich takes the trains or buses, the sick the
pregnant the wounded all take the trains. and then the activist (I
call them that coz they like to go up in arms over izzues) say that we
need to be gracious and give up my seat to them, repeatedly forever
and ever, in of course the unspoken agreement that when I’m old and
poor I will receive the same kindness. now look I’m not grudging this
per se but rather pointing out the fundamental irony of what we are
doing here. bizarro. ironies.

8. saw a very pretty woman, tall lean pants low heels dark green top
light jacket brown handbag coffee long wavy hair thick-rimmed grey-
black glasses a slight smile and  strong energetic walk. that’s the
difference: energy, purpose, and the aroma of coffee in the sun. all
the LV bags, makeup and pushup bras can’t bring you happiness.
damn that Z4 was hot. u know the difference between the manual and
auto cars… in manual u engage the gear, accelerate and turn. one
hand on gearshift one on steering wheel one foot on clutch one on
accelerator one non-parallel processing brain and one vision on
everything. engage, advance, direct, engage, advance, direct, ad
infinitum. the gear engagement is like a cheer or start to an event
which gives it more oomph and significance. like u know it’s stupid
when ppl cheer at the wrong time. yeah.