In movies or in books, we've read about how some people actually save lives or help others or make friends by offering people a ride. You know...people in the West usually hitchhike from place to place on highways thumbing their way around. But in reality, in Malaysia, more precisely, this is not completely possible, is it?
Not when we're living in a country where the crime rate is close to deplorable. Not when we are not used to giving strangers a lift in our cars. And definitely not when we have kids or elderly people in the car with us.
Today, after badminton, as we were heading out, back to my sister/brother's place for shower and dinner, curiously, we saw a man thumbing his way. My brother, my sister and my car one by one, one after another....sailed past him. But not without each of slowing down to take a good look at the face of the man or checking to see if he's really in desperate need of a ride!
But the thing is this...I had kids in my car with me and I used that as an excuse to myself for not stopping and asking. I didn't want to be a bad person or be one of the many reasons why someone did not reach the hospital in time. But thinking back....would I have stopped to ask if my kids were not with me? I mean....seriously? Would I?
Gee...I don't know. A part of me offered a really quick reply, "OF COURSE!" After all, just a couple of hours ago, there was this little three or four year old kid who was dressed drably and had chocolate stains all over his clothes and face (and motherless - I can't believe these mothers let their four-year-olds wander all over the place, crossing streets and talking to strangers without supervision!) I bought a pack of choc for. He siddled into the convenience store that I was in, grabbed a bar of choc, went to the counter and paid RM0.10 for it when it costs RM1. The cashier stared after him incredulously and I was left quite speechless as well. But the sheepish and pleading smile on his face told me that he really wanted the choc and he is going to go out of the store without paying for it...if he had to. So, I paid for the choc.
So, I am all for a 'good cause' in that sense. But seriously, would I stop my car for a man waving me down if I was all alone...without my kids?
I don't know. Would you?
When asked what’s my one single favorite thing to do in the world, I would usually name a whole list of things that I love to do when my work is not screaming at me. Something that takes my mind COMPLETELY off of everyday tasks and relaxes me. Take a guess what it is…. If you say ‘ reading ’, yes, I love reading (especially soppy love stories with lots of sex scenes, please. Hee hee hee ….) and I also love mystery novels but it’s not the first on the list. If you say ‘ playing the piano ’; yes, I love playing the piano. Creating forms a huge part of my life and whenever I play the piano (as inept at it as I am), there’s this tiny little girl inside of me jumping up and down with glee, clapping her hands. It’s my childhood dream to be able to play the piano! And thumping on the keys gives me a sense of satisfaction when I hear the music. If you say ‘ writing ’; You’ve got to be kidding me! You mean I don’t write enough as it is? Case closed. If you say ‘ playing with my kids ’; Yea...
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that's why lah...
Eh, come over to my mommy blog lah (link is on my name). I'm slowing down posting to weavinglinguine bec someone's stealing my content and I'm waiting for good old goog to take action.