Date:18 November 2002
Place: Somewhere on the North American Eastern Seaboard
Time:Eastern Standard Time 2330
Atmospheric Conditions: Snowstorm, -8 degrees Celsius
Constitution:Transcendental Joy
EYES ONLY
Dear Diary,
I just got back from doing the most incredible thing I ever did for a girl before.Thinking of what transpired during the past seven hours gives me this nice and warm feeling inside...Whenever I think of it,the snow inside my heart melts...
Ting Ting wanted to make use of my library card to borrow books for her research essay as her card was temporarily suspended.She told me that she was in dire straits as her paper was due in two days time and yet she had not starting doing anything for it.As it turned out,the two books considered indispensible for the writing of her essay were loaned out.I could feel that Ting Ting's heart sank when she looked at the words "Checked Out-Due 01122002".
She walked away forlonly.
But there was something that caught my eye-there were copies of the books available in the uptown campus.I started to ponder...
Ting Ting said that she would find some way to solve the quagmire.She seemed resigned to her fate.
Ting Ting,I could feel your disappointment. I really could.
I pondered The uptown campus? That is about 300 km away and at least 3-4 hours.Is it possible? But in this weather? I recalled CBC's weather report this morning.The snowstorm that started yesterday would continue till at least next Wednesday.The temperature was in the subzero scale.Yesterday,my ears became crimson red a la Randolph The Red Nosed Reindeer's nose after been outside for only five minutes.
Is it possible? Should I...?
A jet of adrendaline rushed inside me. Go do it!
I embarked on The Most Incredible Journey Of My Life.
Before setting off,I went to the library workstations to gather intelligence first.I noted down the frequency of the bus service,the routes,the fares etc etc.
"This is gonna be one helluva journey,man!" I thought.
I took the subway-to the last station.55 minutes down.
"This is so exciting-exploring the unexplored."
Next waypoint-a bus to Erindale Station Road bus stop.That took 45 minutes.
At the bus stop,I realised that I had forgotten to bring my gloves! "Why didnt I realise it before setting off? Oh man,this gonna be one long,hard and cold night."
The merciless wind pounded on me.It was chilling to the bones.I reminisced about the times in junior college when I froze in an air-conditioned room with a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. Hahaha..."What is that to compare with what I am feeling now."
It was getting unbearable.My palms were virtually numb now.I could feel the acute pain overcoming my eyes.Ouch! A voice inside me echoed "Why did I want to make myself feel so uncomfortable? Maybe I should go back.There it is,the bus on the other side of the road back to civilization and a warm coffee at home."
"Hell no,since you come so far,might as well go all the way now.Please don't be weak.Please do it for Ting Ting's sake." The image of Ting Ting's countenance at the library-one of abject disappointment- strengthened my resolve.
“Something is not right,I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes now,when is the bus gonna come?” I checked the bus schedule. “Dammit, 19A does not operate on Sundays!” “Best liao lor! What am I gonna do now?” “Why am I so blurred?” I guessed I overlooked that in the midst of the excitement before I left home. “Nevermind,I’ll hail a cab.” The problem was I did not see any taxis on the road.This was hardly surprising as it was a suburban area,not downtown. “Things are different here.”
The situation looked really bleak.
But Fate was on my side.
The taxi to me was like an oasis to a dying man in the middle of the Sahara.
“YEAH!”
The taxi ride cost me US$6. Expensive compared to here,but heck it! I was so excited when I alighted. “Finally,this is it. It has not been in vain.” I checked out the books.
The feeling of satisfaction was surreal. When I think of it now,my heart feels so light.It is such a wonderful feeling.
On the train,I was so excited that I could not keep still and kept fidgeting.I also realized that my palms were not numb and my ears didnÂ’t feel the pain.
The warmth in my heart had melted the snow.
I was surprised when Ting Ting called me on my cellular phone. She asked me where I was. I was elusive and said “I am somewhere out there…hehe”
Finally,when I reached Ting TingÂ’s place,I knew that the Incredible Journey was over.I asked her to come down. By then, the Excitement Bug had overcome the whole of me and I kept pacing to and forth.
She was shocked,as expected. She sure was touched too. I reveled in the look of gratitude,the look of satisfaction, the look of relief on her face. I told myself “Nothing beats the feeling of helping another fellow human being.”
The warmth in my heart had transcended the arduous journey of 300+km and the subzero temperatures.
My Joy was Transcendental.
Dear Diary,it has been a good dayÂ’s work.I will retire to bed now.
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/CBC/2002/11/18/storm021118
