Wednesday, September 9, 2009

life in my little kiosk


There's nothing profound about this post. I think I have mono or the swine flu or some type of dramatic illness. I'm delusional. I'm at work. And I'm in my little kiosk. You're probably reading this because you want to kill time -or me, for that matter.

I'm at West Gate, sitting inside a cozy, heated office-like structure in the middle of a cold, vibrant campus with bicyclists, walkers, scooter-ers, professors, visitors, EVERYBODY passing by.

While the Edward Scissorhands soundtrack was in my background, I realized that life in my little kiosk is blissful. I see everyday human interaction from a booth that allows me to look out into the world without being looked into. It's an efficient stalking mechanism: I get to sit inside, rain or shine, and observe everybody and everything.

And I really do see and hear it all.

I see a campus visitor meet up with her blind date (awkward embrace).

I see the poor, kissass student trying to boost his professor's ego to negotiate a later deadline for an assignment (failed).

I watch a very bad skateboarder, who hasn't been told he's not very good, attempt and re-attempt complicated (but for him, impossible) tricks that aren't simply suited for his novice skills.

And then it gets darker.

I see a student wearing black clothing, sulking and desensitized, mourning the loss of her loved one.

I hear a conversation from a student who has been feeling sickly and suicidal.

But then there are those comedic moments that alleviate the darkness. Moments much like when tourists from Japan pan over their video camera while I give them directions, who ever-so-enthusiastically wave at me from behind so I can say 'hi' to the camera -_-

Most of the time though, I sit and observe. I observe human beings. Their (awkward) interactions. Their conversations. Their eyes. The umbrella they forgot to bring. The torn boot. The short shorts. The crazy haircut. The crazy.

With no insult intended, I feel like G/god. I feel like I'm in the minds and hearts of every human being that passes by. And the observation is but 5 seconds long. Then every story, every conversation, every meeting culminates into a multitude of emotions and events that occur in my life in that 3-5 hour shift. I take it with me, intangibly lock it up into their respective East/West gate kiosk mafia-looking suitcases, and go home.

What's mind-boggling is the fact that I only see and hear half of it, and maybe not even.

Every private story is then unsaid- unheard from my ears and unseen through my eyes. Left as mere speculations from the observations I make from my little kiosk.

So I suppose, life in my little kiosk is life.
That's all.

11 comments:

àni said...

observe away my friend :)

Anonymous said...

Vas here... stop observing every one and start living life please :D

Rome said...

haha Vas jan, how can I stop when my observations are only inevitable?

Anonymous said...

The over analyzed and over thought of your observations take away time along with the essence of your life. Observing others, along with analyzing them to a extensive degree, takes away from the time to live your own life.

Rome said...

How is it over analyzing when I'm merely observing?

How are my observations taking away time when they are made during my shift at work? (lol)

You clearly misread and dare I say over analyzed the intent of my thoughts. I sit, watch, and admire human beings.

That's all :). No essence lost, no wisdom received. Just life :)

Anonymous said...

Generally speaking, of course, not spefically in your kiosk. No essence lost, no essence received would just be a waste of time.

Rome said...

Well you did say my over analyzing would take 'away time along w/the essence' of my life lol. So it was specific to my kiosk-written life- no generalizations there.

Indifference doesn't create a waste of time. What's the time that we're wasting? Aren't we each the individual bearers of what essence means to us, and what specifically wasting time entails?

No essence lost, no essence received is just the immobility, indifference, and inactivity of life in that moment. And that's generally speaking, of course. :)

Anonymous said...

The life in the moment wouldn't be indifferent, as every moment that transpires is indeed indifferent. Indifferent would not be the correct term to use, as difference can be relative to anyone.

This whole thing is actually a very relative topic.

Anonymous said...

I say: observe and learn. use what you learn to live your own life better and understand your fellow human beings for the stories, hardships and happinesses their lives hold.

and, isn't over-analyzing someone's blog, in itself, losing "essence"/time of your own life?

SMB

Anonymous said...

This isn't just, "someone's blog."

Anonymous said...

This post reminds me of "People Watching" by Jack Johnson ... One of my favorites.