Universally Interesting Man
June 1st, 2006
i am sitting down and staring strangely at the paper i hold in my hands. on it, is written only one word, alone and steadfast in it’s black printed entirety, and i am sitting there - blinking once, twice - trying to make some sense out of what i am reading. i know this word, i whisper to myself. the calligraphic curves of that one word, it fits right into my sight like matching jigsaw puzzles would. like lock and key.
it’s strange to see this familiar word in somewhere that is so unfamiliar. it feels surreal, and somehow quite comical, like when you’re abroad and you see a reference to home. a picture, a flag, a postcard, anything that makes you feel like you are in two places at once. it is a joyful and excited kinda feeling, like, hey what is this doing here?!. i run my fingertips over the word, and i let forth from my lips a small smile, then a little giggle, and finally i burst out laughing.
“oh this is just really weird,” i say in between giggles. “it’s just .. so .. oh, man!” i manage, before dissolving into laughs again.
if my companion on this excursion is perplexed at my reaction, he is doing a good job of hiding it. i feel compelled to explain my behaviour, to say why this one word elicits such a response from me. actually, i probably did - i dont quite remember. i was just so tickled by the whole experience, that i probably revealed in those few minutes some things that i wouldnt usually have said.
i turned the piece of paper around. felt the protective clear wrapper make a squeaky rubbery sound beneath my fingers.
Red, Beautiful, Peace. i read out loud. and i cant help but giggle again. “what the fuck! red beautiful peace!” i say in a mock serious tone. this time, i chuckle like i know a cosmic secret. but my heart is still getting over the dreamlikeness of it all.
i want this piece of paper, i think to myself. i dont know what the hell i’m going to do with it, but i just want it. quickly, i toy with the idea of making the purchase. in the end, i arrive at the question of - why? there is no point to this. it’s not going to accomplish anything, not going to get me what i want. yes it will be unique memorabilia, but do i really want a tangible manifestation of what i prefer to keep in the back of my mind? taking this step of buying this piece of paper, is akin to admitting i want something to remember the whole experience by. it means everything actually meant something to me. and i’m not quite sure if that’s true. it happened so long ago. and it has no future. so what is the point?
i drop the paper back in the pile. “come on, let’s go, it’s too expensive anyway,” i say breezily, grabbing the arm of my patient friend. and then we stroll out of the shop, leaving it behind, moving on to better things, better places, better circumstances.
Entry Filed under: Unsent Letters
17 Comments Add your own
1. Calypso | June 1st, 2006 at 7:30 am
I would’ve made the purchase, and maybe write something quirky on it and slipped it in a scrapbook…for memories.
2. Waifon | June 1st, 2006 at 10:23 am
To be honest, I don’t think I get what you wrote. ahah :D but whatever it is, if that piece of paper somehow significantly bring back memories you ought to forget, i’d say “screw it”. don’t even bother to buy it la.
3. Vicnan | June 1st, 2006 at 11:29 am
..is one who is universally interested.
Smile.
4. loud | June 1st, 2006 at 12:20 pm
You should have bought it.
And by the way, I LOVED Prep.
5. Hijackqueen | June 1st, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Red, beautiful, astonishing! Red doesn’t goes well with peace.
6. andrew who was not 30 minutes late | June 1st, 2006 at 5:34 pm
=)
7. andrew who was not 30 minutes late | June 1st, 2006 at 5:54 pm
oh yeah the link is: http://theoralstage.blogspot.com/2006/05/zero-seconds-and-counting.html#links
8. pinkpau | June 1st, 2006 at 11:04 pm
calypso : i am afraid it is a little more complicated than just grabbing it and paying .. :)
waifon : i had a mental dilemma .. to buy or not to buy :P
vicnan : *wink* shh!
loud : yes, Prep is really good!
hijackqueen : i cant change it :) it’s not mine to change.
andrew : SORRY I WAS LATE LA!!! haha and thanks for the link :D
9. marianne | June 2nd, 2006 at 8:37 am
I damn suka your site la.
can i marry you ah?
10. andrew | June 2nd, 2006 at 12:33 pm
hey so uve figured out who william quah is right?
11. D | June 3rd, 2006 at 12:47 am
oh are you thinking of trying out for fiftynineminutes?
12. george | June 3rd, 2006 at 2:56 am
red..jumpsuit..apparatus :D
13. pinkpau | June 3rd, 2006 at 3:18 am
marianne : can!! :D i’ve been waiting for your proposal all my life!!
andrew : no .. @_@ who?!
D : was only advised to just yesterday, so i havent really thought about it yet :)
george : ?!?!?
14. foreverjas | June 3rd, 2006 at 11:33 pm
be my fren be my fren =P
15. pinkpau | June 4th, 2006 at 2:11 am
of course, why not :D
16. MichelleShinyi | June 12th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Yup, Red Beautiful Peace makes about as much sense as Love Angel Music Baby :P
Never quite figured out what the deal was with those companies who produce an endless onslaught of t-shirts, pencil cases and bags, all imprinted with a meaningless jumble of words.
Cheers,
MichelleShinyi
17. prevacid versus prilosec&hellip | March 17th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
prevacid versus prilosec…
news…
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