Why I like nights: Driving

All in a night’s drive

It’s about 12.30 in the morning. While I was driving, I read this… “Welcome Tony Blair!” under it, in half the size “We hate you!”. This was a banner maybe about 4ft wide, 3ft tall. Hung from a pedestrian bridge across the bypass linking Jalan Bukit Bintang and the Kampung Pandan Roundabout. It’ll be gone by morning I’m sure. Should have stopped and taken a picture Always wondered when and what time people do these sorta things. Would be nice to have a journalistic observatory experience of such some time, within this lifetime.

On the way to the bank for some refilling, I thought it would be nice to have a cuppa. Drove past Starbucks at PBD and it was closed. No matter. Got the cash, and was on my way to drop off some items at a friend’s. On my way back… perhaps McD.

McD’s drivethrough had two cars in front of me, and a truck that was blocking the through-road alongside. Noticed however, that the Starbucks at Centrepoint (which is directly across the McD drivethrough) was open. Backed up, got down and got myself an espresso&cream. I thought the register’s counter; LED display showing the name of your attending barista is a nice thing to have. So Hazel made the order. Thank you.

While waiting, noticed an unfamiliar pamphlet placed in the serving (erm) receptacle. AYA Awards’ 2010. Grabbed one. Nice booklet. It’s cool seeing where they are today. Visionaries. It is inspiring!

So the drive continues, sans the jams – of course. I like these free roads. It lets you enjoy things you won’t normally get to during rush hours or for that matter, any other times in the day. You get to actually observe with greater appreciation the things you just pass-by everyday. And that’s something I want to do – more. It’s quite something – these sights and scenes.

I also like my drives because there are occasions when whatever’s playing on the CD in the car – makes alot of sense. Tonight’s one of those occasions. So, up goes the volume and you’re almost lost in a world of rhythm, rhyme and reason – or at least the attempt at finding reason.

“You’re on the road, but you’ve got no destination. You’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination. You love this town, even if that doesn’t ring true. You’ve been all over, and it’s been all over you.”

“It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away. It’s a beautiful day.”

There’s more…

You always know there are those potholes to avoid. I have no problems remembering that I need to avoid that pothole when I enter the car, but when it comes to the actual bend where the pothole meets the car, it’s usually too late to avoid. maybe it’s a night thing. Maybe it’s coz there’s a bend and it’s not like I can see it from far away. Oh well Such is life. We prepare, we forget, we lose, we try again. You’re at the mercy of those maintaining the road. In life, you’re at the mercy of that which sustains life. And His mercy is enough.

A drive at night also reveals other things you won’t normally see in the day. Beggars, lonely men (and sometimes women) scurrying the streets. Tonight, one sits on the curb watching passers by sipping brewed herbal bitter tea across from him. Helpless, hopeless. I sympathize. In their plight, I think they are strong – they must have such unwithering perseverance, just to get by the day. Just to stay alive. But what for. And what else can they do.

Necessity is the mother of all invention, we say. I pass by a street with sex for sale. To me, it’s more sad than it is disturbing that women sell themselves like so. If we only knew how it begun. What did life throw at you that made you you? While I am busy trying to contruct possible scenarios of their history, I see car after car stopping by the road unperturbed. Some inquiring, some just looking.

She takes another puff. Exhaling what could be life’s ubiquitous sigh.

I drive home with a greater appreciation of being. But with a greater need to pursue that which transcends life.

“I don’t know where, confused about how as well. Just know that these things, will never change for us at all.”

“Those three words, I say too much, but not enough.”

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