Thoughts on the train - and off the chopping board

Earlier in February, I met Mother at TTSH to accompany her for her pre-scope briefing and to collect her colonoscopy kit. On the train to Novena, I did not use my phone. Instead, I looked around.

As expected, most of my fellow lone passengers were looking at their phone.

I was reminded of something funny I saw on Facebook long ago. If you google images for "no phone in heaven", you'll see a cartoon with this caption: 

Most of the new arrivals seem incapable of conversation. They just stare at their hands in despair.

😂 

I wonder why we are stuck to our phone all the time. Maybe there is no other time to chat, play games or watch videos. I used to cram some things during my morning commute too, especially replying to work messages from the night before :p But what I like best is to zone out. 

The white noise from the train (or bus) is perfect for zoning out. Just 放空 and not think of anything. If there is outside scenery, let the eyes rest by looking far. Look but not see anything. Just don't forget to alight at the right stop!

But that morning, I was kaypoh-ing, observing my surroundings. 

In my carriage, a fellow auntie standing near me was looking at the route map. No phone in hand. I guess she was trying to find her way. 

The only other person without a phone in hand was a man in his 30s-40s seated a bit away. I noticed he had a dot on his forehead; he's Indian. I remember my ex boss telling me - more like replying this curious newbie who asked about his dot - that that meant he had gone to the temple that morning.

Then I wondered about temples. And reminded myself I should get myself a new bead bracelet as my old one broke. It broke a few times and I threaded it back until it spectacularly snapped in the shower one day and I gave up. 

I finally got the bracket last week - not one but two! My old beads were plastic and washable but these are supposedly 朱砂 or cinnabar and cannot take frequent washing. So I bought one for day wear and one for night wear - remove in between for showers ✌️ The night bracelet is made of 帝王砂 which is also a type of 朱砂 🤷‍♀️ 

Anyway, I'm not pious enough to go to a temple so I just wear the bracelets. Old habit from childhood.

Back to the train...

Checking the time, I saw that I might be early but not early enough to go walk walk. There was no way to know whether Mother would be early, on time or late coz she doesn't have a phone *.* She is still in the 不见不散 era!

Nowadays, only kids without phone need to know 不见不散 but unfortunately, we did not tell our kids about it until 20 February... Kai and Yang were supposed to meet and come home together but Kai was dismissed later than usual and Yang left without him. Kai texted us and Sito told him to go to the general office to confirm that Yang was not there. Yang was not. Kai was upset he had to waste time to look for Yang. Now Kai just comes home on his own instead of meeting his brothers on his early days.

Anyway, it's still good to know 不见不散 coz it's also about keeping a promise to meet. 

And these days, we get the younger boys to meet us downstairs or Star Vista for dinner after CCA. So far, the smart watch in Yang's bag has been charged. But should I forget to charge it one day or it ran out of battery before dinner, they really need to know 不见不散!

I remember having a lot of random thoughts that day on the train but now, I just couldn't remember much. I actually jotted down notes during the train ride but now I realised my notes were too brief - just a word or two per thought 😅 

This reminded me of something else:

When I was employed and at work, my brain and fingers were often simultaneously engaged with the screens and keyboard in front of me. Even when I was having my meal at work, I was reading or thinking about work even if I was not actively typing.

For the past three plus years and counting, my hands are often at work preparing meals and cleaning the house when the boys are in school*. But now the brain is quite free, and so thoughts tend to roam...

* Don't talk about when the boys are home - one or more will always be looking for me for one thing or another, be it milk (get it yourself!), complaints against a brother (just leave him alone!), or simply a sayang (awww...). 

Sometimes, I think of interesting, funny or just niao things. Sometimes, I have revelations. Sometimes, I get an idea of things to do.

And then I forget about them when I'm done with the chores!! *.*

I think I should drop my chores - if possible - and jot down my thoughts once I think of something so that I could write about them later. And since I'm SO forgetful that a word or two cannot retrieve my memories of my own thoughts, I need to be more detailed in my notes!