Of Meeting and Missing

10 years. I've been a regular at the interstate bus interchange in Melaka for 10 friggin years - from when it was only a little corner by the Melaka River to its current residence at the bustling Melaka Sentral, specially built for this purpose as travel demands continue to be on the rise. Orang Melaka are venturing to other states for a myriad purposes - further education, better jobs, holidays, to visit loved ones. In the same spirit, Sentral welcomes "foreigners" both from within Malaysia and abroad as Melaka, I'm proud to say, continues to be a favourite tourist destination in Malaysia. One really hasn't seen Malaysia until he's been to Melaka.

Yet, yesterday, as I sat in the JB-bound coach and watched families kiss goodbye and a couple hug, I was suddenly overcome by emotions. It could be the fact that it's Christmas - Why can't we stay and spend more time with our families?! Such is life these days, economic strength sustains life, sustains family. We have to be apart now so we can be together in a better economic climate, in future. F**k the future. If you have to be with someone dear, do it now. If you have to say something important to someone significant, do it now.

NOW. NOW. NOW.
NO Wait.

{Or it's the little verse that caught my eye on Christmas morning, in the papers - "In our giving, Jesus lives. In our living, Jesus gives." I am by no means a Christian, but I think it's wonderful how the spirit of Christmas can be so clearly explained in 10 mortal words. Yet, people were incredulous that a local supermarket pledged 1000 free turkeys in celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve, to be redeemed with absolutely no conditions attached.}

I am digressing. Always digressing.

I want to reflect upon the importance of interchanges.

The bus interchange - the importance of its mundane existence. The place where tears of joy and sadness are shed. Where people meet and miss. Where old friendships are rekindled or undone, and new bonds forged. Hundreds of people, hundreds of stories take place there each day. If only we could see speech bubbles floating above their heads ...

Same as the little bus stop in front of your flat. It has been the quiet confidant of many a tale.

The train station that we take for granted. That we get into as quickly as we get out of. Pause for a moment and look around at the exchanges that take place. The characters of life dramas unfolding on the busy platforms. Do not risk being caught between the closing train doors. Step back, sit back and enjoy the live play. Oh, and it's free.

Or MSN Messenger. Much emotion, secrets ... if you can think it, it has been quietly exchanged on MSN before. I am immensely thankful for the creation of the MSN Messenger. For keeping me in touch, and building special friendships which were forged but would have been short-lived had it not been for the MSN Messenger.

Sometimes, the most inconspicuous can be the most tell-tale, only they won't say it. Or cannot say it. I would like to know them as the unsung heroes - not truest to the meaning of the word, but that's what they are.