December 01, 2006
‘Beautiful mind’
I spent the better part of my morning yesterday going around downtown DC and going back home without incident. I feel much better now that I am starting to become mobile again. Around here, planning is a crucial part of taking a trip that requires getting on the bus or the train. I’m starting to realize there are some things endemic to being Filipino that I need to tone down a bit or undo. Such as being, ahem… “spontaneous.” As spontaneous as hopping on the first jeepney that comes rumbling down the street like we do in the Philippines.
Husband took this photo of a jeepney, the primary mode of transportation in most major cities in the Philippines, in October 2005.
When you’re unfamiliar with the area, and you need to get from Point A to Point B on time, planning is everything. Planning now consists of going to the Washington Metro website, printing out – and being able to read – a map (that’s asking a lot from me, I’m telling you) and making sure there’s enough money on your fare card. I managed to get to my destination and met the husband for lunch at the mall. The food was disappointing but seeing the husband on his lunch break was the day’s highlight.
Now, my close friends know this – I am paranoid of crazy people. If, from a distance, I see someone who I suspect is not in his right mind, I wouldn’t mind turning back and walking six blocks just to avoid being in his path for two reasons: 1) I fear the possibility of being attacked and 2) I can’t charge an insane person in court. See the “lose all” situation? One time, I was riding the jeepney to work and found myself sitting in front of someone mumbling to himself. I got off at the first stop.
Yesterday, on the train, I found myself sitting at the back of a man wearing a red sweater. I was enjoying the view outside when I noticed the passenger in front writing intently. Nothing unusual in that, right? Well, not until I saw that he’d been scribbling numbers and dates on pages and pages of paper. Alarm bells went off. I wanted to be invisible and, believe it or not, I prayed he wouldn’t turn his head around. Hey, he could have just been jotting down his work hours and shame on me for thinking the worst. Maybe I’m an oddball myself.
I recalled the incident to a friend over the phone. Sounds like someone from “Beautiful Mind”, she said. The image of Russell Crowe feverishly writing Math equations on glass windows flashes in mind. Umm… yeah.
Riding an almost empty train affords you plenty of time to contemplate life.