Rapping On A Melody (R.O.A.M )

“He, who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger”                 --Confucius.

People are oblivious to others and the information they disseminate by virtue of speaking on the cell phone in public.  On the bus, on the train, in the streetcar, on the ferry, in just about every public place one can fathom. While I too have a cell phone that I use primarily to keep in touch with my family and check messages on work I don’t publically engage in private conversations or speak like I am talking to someone across a stadium. For the most part I am able to tune out the incessant chatter with my own distractions, reading a book, playing Kevtris on my pocket pc, writing poetry or speaking with the bus/streetcar driver to whom I am on friendly terms with. However some people are just over the top and to be involuntarily subjected to their regurgitating dialogue is quite aggravating.

About a week ago I was on the bus home and there was this young girl, she didn’t look more than 15. She was chatting on the cell phone and for the most part the conversation was benign and although she was loud I could tolerate though barely as she was seated next to me. I guess the faiths were testing me that day because soon the conversation became intolerable as she started.

“Hey Brain, you’re sexy”

 “Yeah”

Ok am thinking, girl people can hear you because her tone changed suggestive.

I’ll show you when I get home, you better be ready”

“I love you” (pause giggle), “I love you more”

“I love you even more”

“Don’t even try that, (giggle) you know minds is more”

“Mom’s not home so I sneaked out, I can be a while”

“Brain”

“You’re sexy”

“I love you more”

I looked at her intently trying to gage her age. She still had baby fat on her face, around her waist, she had food stains on and around her mouth and on her shirt top, her hands were dirty and she looked like she had just the beginnings of breasts. In her hand she had two juvenile like drawings with colorful rainbows that said I AM PROUD OF WHO I AM (lovely sentiment) and something else that I cannot remember but it was a reference to Gay pride as the Gay Parade is this coming weekend.

“I want you”

“You’re sexy” (giggle, giggle)

“I love you”

At this point am asking myself ‘good Lord how much more of this can I take’ and praying hopefully she would get off soon. Just as I reached my tolerance max she rang the bell and got off. Sweet Jesus I think I hope this mother finds out what this child is up too.

Yesterday was another one of such experiences. A tall lanky man dressed casually in jeans and t-shirt in his late thirties mid forties got on the bus and sat directly opposite me. The driver came in and started the bus, about ¼ of the way in our trip the lanky gentleman took out his cell phone and dialed. “Hello” he boomed, I was so startled I jumped my eyes wide open like a deer caught in the head lights. As the man spoke in what appeared to be polish. He continued in this startling volume astounding other passengers, for a brief moment he went down and then he was up in volume again and again I jumped. A woman on the same side two seats down from him looked up from her Sudoku puzzle in annoyance and then looked at me as if to ask is he for real, can’t he hear himself. Again he went down in volume for a fraction of a second then up again at a startling pitch, again I jumped unable to become accustomed to the sound. At this point the bus driver said, “Who is talking and need to shout on the phone.” the woman looked at me then at the man and mouthed “shut up”. I just started laughing, I couldn’t help it, because he was so stunningly and ridiculously loud one would think he was speaking to someone across the street over blaring traffic and he needed to project to be heard.

Thankfully he came off the phone a few minutes later, he was not long only the volume made it seem like ten minutes. I was still laughing to myself due to the incredulity of it all. He must have realized due to the look on people’s faces and the driver’s comment because he looked at me and asks, “Was I too loud?” I shook my head yes, then he asked again, “Was I very loud?” and I said yes again with my head not trusting myself to speak. He remained quiet for the rest of the trip. 

Life is filled with ups and downs. The trick is learning how to be fluid and move continually between the ebb and flow of triumphs, tribulations, stillness and awakeness while noting the jeweled lessons crowned within each experience lived and witnessed.

D.S.B. Rhapody ©2009

A co-worker got a pen stuck inside our printer. He started to try and remove the pen, but I told him we don't have time for that now, just put a note on the printer telling folks not to use it and then report it to the Help Desk. So he grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled on it. I left before he finished the note.

About 20 minutes later, one of my techs comes in laughing and says he was just in the lobby, saw a piece of paper on a printer and went to investigate. Attached is what he found.

Sometimes things don't always come out the way you want them to...