The first thing I did when the elevator opened this morning was to check myself on the mirror. Vain I know. But I just woke up and discovered I misplaced my monthly dues check so I have to rush and pay immediately.I did not have time to shower and fix myself. I was checking my new hair cut. And it was messy.
After a floor, the door opened and came inside a bunch of other residents, about four of them. I caught a glimpse on each one and noticed that not a single person was smiling. Or more accurately, everyone looked stressed and sad. I began to think if I smiled at myself in the mirror earlier. I did not. I was concerned about my unfixed hair.
Then we reached another floor and another. The pattern is the same. Residents would get in without saying a word, which I feel is normal, but everyone doesn't seem to have a sunny disposition this morning! It's supposed to be rest-day Saturday!
The elevator can accommodate 11 people, we were around that number and I'm sure our combined weight was heavy. But what was heavier was the silent and smile-less interaction. It was really more of a half-a-second glance and then we go on with our lives.
My friends and relatives who would come and visit have previously asked if I know any of my neighbors. I told them that aside from my broker, I don't know anyone. They were very surprised. I told them that it's the norm.
A high school classmate who went to Makati years ago told me, after showing her around Ayala Avenue, that the people look sad.
Maybe if you reside in one, if not the most expensive city in the Philippines, you'd also feel stressed. Rent is exorbitant. Food prices are out-of-this-world and people can be bitchy so in many cases, you have to be assertive and you may need to "bitch around" as well.
I think that's the downside of living in an urban jungle.
Sure we don't experience black outs or water interruption, well except if they need to do some scheduled maintenance. Convenience stores and some restaurants are open 24 hours, there are always public transportation. There are usually no petty crimes though there have been a significant number of people jumping from buildings since I moved here in 2008.
But people always seem to be in rush or thinking what's next or even way ahead of what's next. When we step back and try to see ourselves, we may discover our hollow-looking versions. Our relationships with neighbors, especially if you live in condominiums are, well, we don't really have any relationships. So if you want to be with friends, you'd have to grab a cab (now via phone apps) or drive to get out of the house. Then find a place to dine, maybe a movie to watch, proceed to a club or bar to have a drink if you're in the mood or maybe just chill with wine or coffee. That makes life here expensive. That pressures us to work and keep and focus on our jobs. That perhaps explains why on a Saturday morning, we can afford to look stressed. It won't be though this afternoon, because personally, I'm getting out of the house.
The case maybe different for people with families or husbands or wives or those who are cohabiting with boyfriends or girlfriends. I hope! But that's a different blog, and if theirs is a different story, I might need to explore that. Insert wink emoticon here.
On my way to the Admin office, I saw Mang Tony, the building plumber, who was the first to greet me with a smile today, "Good morning Sir!" What a happy fellow! What an outlier in this building at this time of the day! Though I must say, that on my back to the lobby, I saw him again and he was walking like a zombie. He was probably thinking of his next job so he didn't notice me thus no smile or recognition.
Maybe to remind me that I can choose not to be a zombie, the guard at the lobby also greeted right before I got in the elevator. He asked whether I don't have work on a weekend which led me to saying that my face is big (there's a gigantic mirror in the lobby) to which he quipped that it was probably my teeth which I thought did not make sense. He was bright and sunny like the earlier Mang Tony. Or maybe it was just his job.
