Sunday, October 30, 2016

When 10 meter is way too far


I attend Taiji class at Serangoon Garden Country Club every Sunday morning from 8 to 9 am. 2 Two classes are conducted at the carpark with half of its length ringed off for the purpose. Swimming classes for the children start at 9am. Usually by that time there will be a stream of cars approaching the carpark. Drivers who come later will have problem finding a proper car park slot but can always park their car at an open unpaved ground still within the club's premise but about 10 meters away. As the gym is nearer to the place where we practice Taiji a person going for his workout will have to walk slightly further as he cannot access the carpark spaces outside the gym. The club had in the past received complaints about these inconveniences but the club held its stand explaining that the Taiji groups have been practicing for more than 2 decades and there arent't any alternative space for the classes. One really fails to figure out what the rationale of the complaint is given that people go for exercise at the gym. So an additional 20 meter walk from the carpark to the gym is a toll and it doesn't even qualify as a warm up?

This morning about 5 minutes before 9 am a car drove at quite a speed abruptly stopped before the 2 traffic cones and tapes which were used to cordon off the area for Taiji. I was practicing closest to the cones and could see the driver giving us a hand signal with his palm as if saying "What is this man?". I gave him a smirk look which I hope he could notice.  Ignoring him the teacher just continued as per normal. Meanwhile I was a bit worried that the driver might out of sudden madness bulldoze into us. A short while later 2 boys around 8 to 10 years of age came out of the car and walked towards the pool. The male driver in his late 30s then got out, stood next to the opened car door and asked in a raised irritated voice "what time will this be over?" By then we were done and the teacher quickly removed the traffic cones.

I caught sight of the guy queuing  at the pool cafe to order food on my way to the ladies. I was thinking to myself that I should walk up to him and pass some sarcastic remarks. I was musing over what I should say. Perhaps I can walk up to him and say "Sir, don't you agree that we have many first world problems in Singapore" or maybe I should say "Sir, you must have a terrible day today, sorry we made you wait " or maybe "Sorry sir that we delayed your breakfast" or even "Sir, you really showed a very good example to your kids on how to assert your rights".

I don't know what's coming over me but as I grow older I develop impulses to voices my opinion even in front of strangers. For instance I told a cab driver once to be very wary when he shared that he has a Chinese national girl friend. In another instance I told the contract cleaning worker that he should cut down on his smoking. Maybe this is what they called the "ไปฅ่€ๅ–่€" syndrome ie, using the excuse of age to ignore rules

In the end I didn't speak to the guy although I stared at him and gave him a dirty look on my way out. In the car I mused about it and became aware of my lack of kindness. Who knows maybe he really had a bad day or perhaps his wife left him. It is also possible he is a product of much blessings such that minor inconveniences seem insurmountable. Maybe I should have given him a pitiful look instead.

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