Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Just watching

This morning, I just waited.

And watched.

Without a book or any kind of reading material (not even a brochure).

It wasn't as bad as I always thought it was.

Sipping my peppermint mocha frappucino, I waited for the mall to open so I could replenish my vitamin stash.

I'd forgotten how fascinating it was to people watch. Or how peaceful it is to just sit still.

I watched a cute little girl with her mom and grandmother eat her belgian waffle and drink her iced tea. Then she spilled her water all over her pretty dress. Her mom was so cool and calm. No scolding. Just wiped her down and gave her her tea again. I wished Faith was with me.

I used to be uncomfortable with waiting by myself. I used books as my armor.

Maybe I'll deliberately forget to bring one sometimes.

14 comments:

Pacha said...

I know exactly what you mean. I feel naked if I don't have a book(or any reading material or even a notebook to write) with me. I will attack posters and even read the small print if I don't have any with me.

You and Aminah are trying to tell me something today aren't you?

Its nice to slow down and taste the details without thinking about filling every minute of the day with words. Learn to watch and wait...in silence!

I loved this post Menchie!

Menchie said...

Pacha,
Naked...exactly! I don't know where the aversion to being left doing nothing stems. I remember hating eating alone in public too.

This time it was really nice to watch -- even if people probably thought I was rude! LOL! I even resisted texting! :D

Cherry Popcorn said...

Yeah.. Loneliness is something that we have to conquer ourselves! I use a book as an armor too! But am slowly learning to be comfortable with myself!

Missed u!

Stace said...

I know exactly what you mean about using books as armour. However people-watching is also fascinating. There is a guy I see all the time in our local shopping centre... he wears a backpack and headphones, and he jogs around inside the shopping centre, or sometimes breaks into a dance. He's always interesting to watch. But even watching "normal" people is fun... I used to carry around a notebook and jot down observations, that's fun.

Menchie said...

Princess,
I know how lonely it is for you right now being so far away from home and family (and Cody!). Good that you're adapting pretty well.

Stace,
That guy sounds like a character all right. :D I used to people watch all the time but usually with a friend. As i said, whenever I was going to be by myself, I always made sure I had a book with me.

Keshi said...

I love watching ppl...it's so interesting. thats what I do on the train :)


Nice chilled post.

Keshi.

Memarie Lane said...

I thought I'd die when I went for a haircut a couple weeks ago to find an hour-long wait and only an old Men's Health for reading material. It ended up being a great magazine. A couple days ago I was at the store and got in line. The lady in front of me asked me if I'd like to go ahead since I only had a few things, but I explained that waiting in line, as my husband stays home with the kids, is something of a vacation for me.

Menchie said...

keshi,
can you believe i also read in the car? i hardly take public transport because it is very inconvenient. I wish we had a subway too.

marie,
Oh i also read those super old magazines in waiting rooms. anything i can get my hands on really. hey, your avatar is soooo cool! :D

Dan said...

Isn't that a wonderful feeling Menchie? You were basically meditating, watching life go by, without distraction. Awesome!

JK said...

Sometimes it's good to do nothing and to say nothing. It actually keeps us calm.

K M F said...

Hi menchie wounderfull post i love this feeling i waching through my camera
Have a nice day

aminah said...

Menchie, it's true...I really think we need to quieten thoughts and just be for a while...and watch and live the moment! I really enjoyed reading this and how weird we both had posts about the same thing!
Enjoy just being in the moment without worrying about tommorrow, yesterday etc...

Keshi said...

hehe u read in the car and I read on the train :) and when Im bored, I watch ppl...and thats when I perv too LOL!

Keshi.

Menchie said...

Dan,
I was surprised that I didn't mind waiting without doing anything. It was a nice change from constantly feeling the need to be occupied at something.

Jo-n,
so true.

k m f,
hey, thanks for stopping by. great pictures by the way. :D

aminah,
it's a very different feeling and i admit i'm not used to doing this kind of thing. but it was nice to just live in the moment.

keshi,
unfortunately, can't people watch too much when you're in a car. :D