On City Pavements
He looked fluffed,carrying in a lazy manner, a shoulder grab bag. What made me notice him was his continuing munching of a burger, and an obviously fatty rich fast meal at that, the chomps going furiously as his walking gait and manner. Maybe he dealt with customers front line, or through the phone, and his growing moustache was ruffled, with the eyes having a bleary, glazed look. He must not been more than in his mid-twenties, but he did somehow look older. Whilst waiting at the set of pedestrian lights, I sneaked a look at his open bag - and there was more of that greasy fast food in one big brown paper bag.
I thought to myself - obviously a single person with no structured meals and maybe no tender loving girlfriend, or that girlfriend was also chasing the rat race herself to actually insist on a home meal together!
I was also pounding on the city pavement - rushing back to Sydney's Central Station to be on time to jump (literally!)on to the fast train back to North Wollongong. I could have just relaxed and taken another train an hour later, but that train would have been an all stops, journeying south into the nearly summer night through the Royal National Park and beyond. I had even managed a bowl of what was labelled "Sydney's best laksa" at Galleries Victoria - I must say it was not that good in taste as advertised, but good enough - on my route, for I knew it would be past dinnertime when I got home.
I pondered, on the long train ride home, that scenes I have noticed recently on city streets must be repeated all over the so-called developed and developing world. Individuals who are time-poor and task-laden. Individuals who have bigger dreams and yet are caught up with numerous little details. Individuals who still have a plan underneath the veneer of being distracted by frivolous things. Individuals who may become so preoccupied that they dispense with the niceties of life. I had forgotten how a mobile phone and a laptop become great buddies on a long commute, if you don't travel with anybody else on a regular basis.
The next day I was back in the cbd with a few business meetings - and even a rare catch up with a friend at the Suisse Lindt Cafe was over in a jiffy. I had a more relaxing time at lunch, and even enjoyed the adrenalin of being in a full house outlet. I like the atmosphere of thinking and acting fast, but I cannot let go the pleasure of also having opportunities to let the subconscious of the mind strategise over long stressless car drives on almost empty roads. On the city pavements and tar, there is no such equal sensation - all of my senses are utilised by wilful concentration, by the demands of the present or by unwanted distraction.
I thought to myself - obviously a single person with no structured meals and maybe no tender loving girlfriend, or that girlfriend was also chasing the rat race herself to actually insist on a home meal together!
I was also pounding on the city pavement - rushing back to Sydney's Central Station to be on time to jump (literally!)on to the fast train back to North Wollongong. I could have just relaxed and taken another train an hour later, but that train would have been an all stops, journeying south into the nearly summer night through the Royal National Park and beyond. I had even managed a bowl of what was labelled "Sydney's best laksa" at Galleries Victoria - I must say it was not that good in taste as advertised, but good enough - on my route, for I knew it would be past dinnertime when I got home.
I pondered, on the long train ride home, that scenes I have noticed recently on city streets must be repeated all over the so-called developed and developing world. Individuals who are time-poor and task-laden. Individuals who have bigger dreams and yet are caught up with numerous little details. Individuals who still have a plan underneath the veneer of being distracted by frivolous things. Individuals who may become so preoccupied that they dispense with the niceties of life. I had forgotten how a mobile phone and a laptop become great buddies on a long commute, if you don't travel with anybody else on a regular basis.
The next day I was back in the cbd with a few business meetings - and even a rare catch up with a friend at the Suisse Lindt Cafe was over in a jiffy. I had a more relaxing time at lunch, and even enjoyed the adrenalin of being in a full house outlet. I like the atmosphere of thinking and acting fast, but I cannot let go the pleasure of also having opportunities to let the subconscious of the mind strategise over long stressless car drives on almost empty roads. On the city pavements and tar, there is no such equal sensation - all of my senses are utilised by wilful concentration, by the demands of the present or by unwanted distraction.
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