Today, the day started well enough for me after my daily roti canai, teh tarik and fellowship with my buddy, Errol Gan. Somehow, the day did not turn out to be well enough as the drama of the day unfolded. Not that I am superstitious or any of that sort but somehow, my tempers flared, anger consumed me , my mind got distorted and my disposition just went down south and all wrong. So , how could a day that started out well, ended up as messed up and then back to being well again? I guess, God works in a mysterious way,huh? Don't get me wrong. I am a firm believer in my GOD , it is just that I am flawed, man.
Well, it all comes down to the fact that it is still " This is the day that the Lord had made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I guess, today is one of those days when things don't get good as the day progressed. I guess, I got out of the mid-day with not the right spirit at work and somehow, I just got mad at people at work and some things that happened in the office. It has been a long time that I've felt down over the days and the ridiculousness of things happening at work whereby unhappiness, bad work ethics and unfairness had slipped in. It seemed so ridiculous but somehow, people put up with it all for the sake of "not rocking the boat" and "stay at peace." I am constantly reminded of how I should act and react for the day lest I stand accused of "going against the grain".
Anyway, I picked up two works today and my misery started as I was looking for my first place of work. I was driving round in circles as the client did not give me an accurate address. In the blistering heat of today, the heat and weather can fry your brains! It took me nearly two hours to figure out and endless driving seeking the place. When I finally got there, it was hard work and fielded a lot of questions. The place was sooted, stuffy and no electricity supply. Glass fragments were everywhere but luckily, I was already wearing safety boots for work. Just when I thought the day couldn't get worst, it DID! The second job was also a horrendous pitch dark, stuffy and no electricity supply place. Double whammy this time!
Then, the inevitable happened. I had a slip and fell to the ground like some rotten cempedak ( jackfruit) ! I landed on my bums and luckily, I cushioned the fall with my right hand while still holding the company's iPhone while taking pictures. My elbow hurts while my bum landed on a pile of chili flakes, chili paste, turmeric powder and grounded poppy seeds. I could have sworn that the client tried helping me out but not reaching out his hands as my right arm was covered with chili flakes and paste! He probably just sympathized but not really reaching out his hands. It was as though he didn't want anything to do with me. Worst of all, he called me "uncle" and he was almost as old as I was! Rats! I tell you , it was hilarious sight, actually. I fell swat like some fat ass idiot on the floor covered with chili flakes, paste, turmeric and grounded poppy seeds ( kas kas as they are known ).
As I picked myself up from the fall, I could have sworn that the Nepali workers were smiling and choked up their laughter seeing a wide Chinaman fall swat on his ass! Gosh, it was the most embarrassing thing that had happened to me. "Really, Ivan?" was all I could tell myself. So, here I am with my pants ( back section ) covered with the chillies and what not while the most significant embarrassment of all, my ass was virtually on fire and hot because of the chili flakes /paste juices. Boy, not just the cheek of the bums were on fire ; so were the thighs, inner thighs and nuts too, if you get the drift! So, here I am , steadying myself, trying to do my job the best I could, finished it and then went to the toilet for some washing up. I was touched when the Nepali workers used toilet papers and cloth to help me clean up but I do smell like chili paste, man! Like some pork chops marinated with chili paste and ready for some BBQ grille! Worst still, I realized that the Nepali workers were in their slippers and they did not fall while I, who was on safety boots,fall mercilessly on my ass! Oh! How bad can the day get, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, laugh all you want but it wasn't funny for me as the pain and the burning sensation are real, man. Then the proprietor told me that they do use a lot of bird's eye chilli ( cili padi ) for their paste formula and it doesn't take a genius to guess where the burning sensation is coming from and how long it is going to be! Yeah, yeah, very timely of him and the irony to inform me of their secret formula paste! My God, I would have to take the shame and pain for quite some time! Nope, I did not walk bow-legged as I was very composed about the entire episode. I stayed dignified, calm and composed but smell like chili paste for sure. Luckily, I have some PP banner at the back of my car and I laced it over the front seat. At least, I won't stained the car seat.
As I drove back home, I was just laughing at myself. What turned out to be a horrendous day was actually a real silly day for me. At least, I could laughed at myself and be at ease with my heart. When I told Soon Ling, my the other half, she laughed too and told me to see if we could save the pants tainted with chili paste! Yeah, I love that pants as it was comfortable though it wasn't an expensive one. By the way, all my work clothes are inexpensive but comfortable.
I realized that with the medical condition, I could have died by the fall or worst still, could have knocked my head against the plastic pallets and die. Now, that illustration wouldn't look nice of my tombstone tablet, isn't it? Imagine, " Here lies, Ivan Foo, beloved husband, father and son, the one that fell on his ass while at work and DIED! " Sounds corny, right? So, I am ever thankful that I did not sustained any serious injuries nor had any broken bones nor fractures! Maybe, just a bruised ego and a very hot...... ass!
Just be thankful for whatever day you are having. Be thankful that there is breath in your lungs and you are ALIVE just as I AM! Sure, a bruised ego and a string of abusive laughter but nevertheless, it is still a good day to be ALIVE!
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