Like the famous Talk-Talk's song says: "Life's what you make it", but let's face it, life in big cities is a hassle! No matter how you're trying to make it, you will still get your daily dose of annoyances: the people, the noises, the traffic, the congested streets full of cars and people, the smells, the attitudes, the behaviours, the mores, the usages, the stress, the anxiety, the fatigue, the pollution, the trash everywhere, the public transports delays and disruptions, and so on, and so on... It is as convenient and exciting as irritably inconvenient and extremely overwhelming!
No matter what, life is a struggle! Yet, not for everyone. As, if you can afford to live close enough to the city centre, where everything is happening, and have consequently enough money to enjoy the city life, then it's ok, you might experience some inconveniences too, but overall life doesn't seem as difficult. But, if you can't afford it (like most of us) and have to live further away from the city centre or even in the suburb, (and can't afford a vehicle either), then life can become very hectic and tiring, as struggling becomes your daily routine.
A typical (or atypical) city life daily routine...
First, you have to wake up early to make sure you have enough time to get yourself (and may the kids too) ready, to get to the bus, the metro or the train on time, as you are dependent on public transports to bring them to school, then, in turn, go to work (or anywhere else for that matter). And from that point on, anything can happen until you get back home later on at night.
05:30 - The alarm rings. You clumsily grope for it to turn it off. You're tired. You did not sleep well. Feeling unrested and groggy from not enough sleep. You turn around in your bed and change position. It feels good and you wish it was not time to wake up. 5 minutes later, you know you have to wake up, so you open your eyes. Your mind is already pacing with the things to be done during the day and how you will organize yourself to do them. You sit up while experiencing pandiculation, yawning and stretching your arms and legs to unstiffen your body, prior to getting out of bed.
05:40 - Unsteady, you walk to the bathroom to release your bladder from this sudden urgent urination need. You wash your hands. Put water on your face in an attempt to fully wake up. Look at yourself in the mirror. Baggy dark eyes. Empty stare. Pale toned skin. Messed up hair. And a few more pronounced wrinkles. And the thought that you could use a bit of exercise crosses your mind furtively glancing at your body. You roll your eyes in despair of seeing yourself like this, but still, give yourself a blink with a sparkle in your eye and a faint smile, as after all you are used to that morning face and don't mind it as it is who you are.
05:45 - Time to wake up the kids. Your teenage son is already awake. "Hi, son!". "Hi dad," he says, barely acknowledging you as already absorbs by other things. Your daughter, the youngest of the two, is a sleeper like you. "Morning girl, it's time to wake up!". "Ok..." she says barely awake and putting the blanket on her head like to go back to sleep. You wish you could all breakfast together, but you have to take turns in the bathroom. Your son usually goes first as he is quite fast, while you're having your breakfast and preparing the table for the kids and wife. Then your daughter, then your wife or yourself if separated.
06:20 - By the time everyone else finishes with the shower, while you keep watching the time, you are now in the rush. You brush your teeth. Shave. Poop. Shower. Dress up. Then, it is already time to go.
07:00 - You and the kids are waiting for what seems to be "the-slowest-elevator-in the-world". Impatience is a thing in the morning. Of course, once in, it has to stop at what seems to be "nearly-every-floor" on the way down. The elevator is usually the first mood indicator of the day (right out of the apartment): "Great! Empty! Hope no one else will come in" or "Oh great! There are already people inside and we still have a long way to ground floor! Sigh..."
07:01 - Bad luck. The lift is full. You are squashed like sardines for what seems like an eternity. Your nose about to sneeze, irritated by the hair of the lady in front, as well as the garlic breath of your neighbour mingling with the smell of dust and mothball (naphthalene) of the winter coats freshly removed from their plastic bags left in the closet or in the cartons stacked in the storage room for the past 8 months or so. The kids are crushed against the elevator's wall, unable to breathe or move a muscle. "Are we there yet? No! Still, 3 floors to go, (sigh)... And we still have to fight our way out the building through a pack of unpredictable slow-walking phone-zombies... (re-sigh...)"
07:05 - You're outside of the building. Finally, you can breathe, or so you thought. Even that early in the morning, the air is already hazy, thick, with a yellowish-greenish hue to it. You cannot help thinking that this polluted air and the phone-zombies create a gloomy atmosphere worthy of the greatest post-apocalyptic movies of their kind. Perfect in this day and age of turmoil and uncertainty of this early 21st century. You come out of your thoughts as the kids are calling you to rush you to walk to the bus that goes to their school.
07:10 - You're at the bus stop. You've managed to arrive among the first people, and with a quick glance at the sky, you thank god, that, at least this morning, you won't have to stand the long minutes of the 15 minutes ride going to the school. The bus arrives. Kids go first and you follow, checking at the same time how much is left on their card and yours too. The kids are ok, but you only have -$3 on yours, fortunately, you always a few coins in the pocket. Like if your mind was not busy enough with intricate thoughts, with all the rest of things you have to think about for the day, you now have to think that you have to put some money on your card. Great! It is a double-decker bus, and the front row of the upper level is free. Seating next to your daughter, with your son on the other side of the aisle, you can now enjoy the next few minutes to free your mind, rest a little and enjoy the road view. Yet, It is at this exact moment that your daughter is asking you to help her revise a lesson for an evaluation she has this same morning. Kid's needs come first, so you oblige her.
07:25 - The bus stops. Kids and parents go out. You all walk a short distance to the school, then stop at the gate. You acknowledge parents and kids by a movement of your head or even say hello to some of them you know a little. One of them is kind of a friend. He is also quite funny, and take the same metro line, so you're glad he is here as the journey to work will be less monotonous than usual. A kiss on the forehead of your daughter, with a few words of encouragement for her evaluation, as she is quite sensitive and in need of comforting. A tentative hand in the air, trying to wave goodbye at your teenage son, who literally forgot you exist, and his already in a deep conversation on the latest video games with some of his friends anyway. And for a second, while following them with your eyes disappearing into the school, you realize how grown your kids are already, and that only in a few years, they will be gone already. Time flies.
07:30 - Your train of thoughts, about your growing-up kids, is suddenly disrupted by a friendly voice bringing you back to reality. It is your kind of friend. He lives nearby your place. You don't know him well, but you appreciate these morning moments and conversations share together up to and in the train. The 10 minutes walk to the metro station seem less dull when he is here. Despite his good sense of humour and his natural bonhomie, he is quite opened and interested enough in various subjects, so the conversation with him is never boring. Rather pleasant in fact. It makes the morning more fun and agreeable, setting a good mood to start the day. Nothing better than to be able to laugh in the morning. Some conversations with other parents or people being so dull and uninteresting sometimes, better surround yourself with funny and smart people. You're thinking that one day it would be good to take the time to concretise that idea of having a beer or two, you both talked about so many times.
Work in progress...
The courteous stickman (Domelgabor)
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