I was down on an underground escalator and saw an old couple on the right lane slowly walking and looking at young crowd running past by on the left lane in their rush hour. again and again.
Sad scene for me.
"Left or Right," I thought.
I am not an angel but I couldn't help staying on the right with them, being afraid I would be another person who, again, makes them feel they are a little too old and slow for the underground they have been using for their entire life.
Deep inside, sometimes people just want to be accompanied by an anonymous companion, not physically, but mentally - to make them feel that they still belong to the streets they cross everyday or the footpath they walk every morning.
I just realized the cliche scene of a younger generation helping an aging lady to cross the road (Snack Jack TV commercial). That is more than helping on the physical weakness but it makes her feel she is not too slow. she still belongs to this world that at least there is somebody who walks at the same pace as they do and they no longer have to feel out of place.
Suddenly, that cliche scene is not a cliche for me any more. And will never be.
Pretend to be slow feels good sometimes.
23 September 2007
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