such a rude welcome home: hopping onto the airport train into town (note: i didn't call it downtown!), with a 15kg backpack on my back, a daypack on my front, and carrying a laptop, no one remotely budged to offer me a seat on the rush hour train. this happened on the train to the north shore too, not just on the airport line. i was slouching near a lady using a walking cane, who was also forced to stand by the neatly pressed suits with eyes down, clearly avoiding eye contact. at what point did simple courtesy or even basic manners escape the common commuter? the lady from aqis who confiscated my beef and turkey jerky was more friendly and humane than the knobs on the train.
it always strikes me when i come back from overseas, especially when returning from highly cultured and vibrant places in europe and asia, how stagnant it can be here. how and when did the daily grind get to people's spirits too? i'm not talking about the religious spirit (because there isn't one dammit) but just one's energy for life, to want to be alive and enjoy being on this planet. is this what life is really about, scowling on the morning train commute avoiding eye contact, or is this just what happens when life gets too comfortable with a nice medicare system and government pension awaiting you?
screw this. i'm heading south to the international arts festival for some vibes. i hear there's a production of shakespeare's romeo+juliet set in pizzerias, performed in lithuanian. food and the bard? yes please.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment