It was a lovely wedding. The bridesmaids wore a charming shade of orangy-red, and the groomsmen were in their tuxedos. The bride and the groom, whom I have known as students, clearly conveyed the importance of the moment.
The drive back gave me ample time to think about the students that I have come to know over the years. Even the few who develop a relationship with me drop off after a few years. It is all transitory. It is all but a fleeting moment.
Which is all the more why the moments become so special. The moment of the wedding. The moment of the first job. The moment of the childbirth. Life-changing moments.
But, then every mundane moment is precious too. Some of my favorite moments include having done nothing at all. To most people in this modern age, the moment of doing nothing is perhaps even a strange concept.
Such were the thoughts as I was driving back from the wedding. It is never a dull moment in that balding head of mine ;)
I wondered whether it was time for me to speed up a tad and move over to the left lane in order to pass the car that was ahead of me. Perhaps that driver was even more engrossed in thoughts than I was--that vehicle was barely going at 55!
I waited for the Honda and then the Jeep to pass me and then I shifted to the left lane. I suppose the slow driver woke up from his thoughts and started accelerating. So, there we were, three vehicles one behind another in the fast lane.
When all of a sudden, the Jeep rushed onto the shoulder by the left lane and zoomed past the Honda that was ahead and then rejoined the left lane. It was one of those moments when we were literally left in the dust.
Out shot the finger from the passenger side of the Honda as the driver revved up. A road-rage fueled race was on, with the Honda trying to settle score with the Jeep.
I passed the vehicle and moved over to the slow lane. I could see the Honda zigzagging between cars in the two lanes and finally jumping ahead of the Jeep. After a few seconds, it was the Jeep's turn to outrace the Honda. And then they were off my line of sight.
I cannot imagine the people in the Jeep nor the Honda understanding and appreciating the value of the moment and of the transitory nature of life.
I have a memorial service to get to. He left behind his wife; they were married for 38 years.
Poignant moments in life.
4 comments:
Poignant moments indeed. As you say, remembrances are often fairly trivial moments. For some reason they get stuck in the head, and with the passage of time, get a halo of their own.
Nice that you went to a student's wedding. In your country, being invited to a wedding is a rare event. So all the more special. Did you wear a tuxedo yourself ??? - If so where is the photo ??
Sometimes you should also do something unpredictable and out of character. So the next time somebody like that Jeep driver emerges, please show him the finger and show the world what that beast of a ride that you have, can do :):)
In contrast to the old country practices, being invited to a wedding here is a rare thing, indeed. Which is also why I feel so special when invited to a student's wedding.
I didn't wear a tux. But, I did wear formal trousers, a dress shirt, and a necktie ... no photo though ;)
I have never, ever shown the finger ... maybe I should try it sometime, eh ... naaaaah--it ain't me :(
It is interesting that we both saw a finger when driving away from my wedding! Michelle and I received one on the way to our reception, but we weren't the vehicle you saw, I swear! We were delighted to have you at the wedding, and I'll look and see if we caught you in a photo for Ramesh's sake.
What are you doing here at this blog a mere few days after getting married? ;)
Will watch out for a photo from you ... without "the finger" of course ... hehehe
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