Clean lines, straight lines, curved lines

Woke up this morning, brushed my teeth, showered, dressed for work, combed my hair, gave myself the first and final look in the mirror (for the morning), and smiled.

Was greeted by the maitre d'hotel at the coffee shop with a smile. Despite lack of recognition, I smiled back.

The concierge, at the hotel, saw the searching look in my eyes, smiled, and called a taxi for me. The look in my eyes transformed to gratitude.

The cabbie held open the door for me as I fumbled for my laptop bag and file folder, trying to get out of the car as elegantly as possible. In my embarrassment, I smiled, half to myself, half to the cabbie. He acknowledged with one of his own.

At the bank, the girl at the forex services desk greeted me heartily. I looked different from her and her people, spoke differently too. She smiled at my keen efforts to speak her language and to be understood. Although the job took a little more time than I'd budgeted for, I waited patiently, to be rewarded with an apologetic but respectful smile. I couldn't take objection to the delay.

I got off the elevator on the wrong floor. The restaurant I was looking for was on the floor below. I asked a passer-by for the way to the staircase, so as not to hold up lunch-time elevator traffic in the 27-storey building. She realized I was hungry and kindly led me by hand to the front of the elevator door and pressed the button for me. I smiled my thanks.

The gymnasium was empty when I entered. The trainer-cum-attendant called out a greeting cheerily, almost surprised to see me again. I replied with a wide grin.

A junior colleague called to ask how my day was. He's on his first week of his first project in his first job during his first international trip. Today was also his first day of return from work before 10.00 pm. Subtly, the greenhorn asked if I'd had dinner. I smiled. He wanted to talk, to be heard, to be with someone who knew. I invited him to join me for the meal.

30 mins to midnight. I think about all the reasons that one looks for to be happy in life. Am I happy? I'm happy to be here, to have a job, to enjoy my work, to have great work-mates, to use my time the way I want, to anticipate a new experience when I go out the door of my room, to talk to those I love and care about, to pray for them. How much does it take? Just a curved line?...

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"The Happy Virus"
I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious
- So kiss me.

(Have to admit, I couldn't resist copying this one!)

The White Horse

That was the name of a pub on the way from Oxford city to Headington - The White Horse. Never got around to entering it but the name always stuck in the mind, whenever I passed by that way. Never really stopped to think why. But now that I have given it some thought, I know what subconscious images it brought to mind.

"The" white horse or "a" white horse?... Hmm... I guess the latter makes sense but since I have now formed an association between the visual imagery and the subconscious urge, I'm going to stick with "the" white horse.

A vast expanse of land, ocean, fields, ... just anything, as long as it is expansive. The only condition is that it must be pure. Purity, cleanliness, the endless sameness of matter that is indistinguishable in any one patch from any other. Almost like the purity of "white", like snowfields in Siberia (and now I think of Kira Argounova in We the Living).

The expanse is my playfield. The fact that it is so homogeneous is not disturbing, but rather, encouraging. Now, I am not a gullible kind who'd be easily led by anybody, anything. But I am an optimist so the coast looks refreshingly clear from where I stand, just at the edge of the field.

There must be a way to get to the other end. What might I find there? How long would it take? Will it be worth the effort? Questions, doubts, directions - too many - too much clutter. I'll do without them for now. I'm content to take a few steps unquestioningly and brace myself for the journey ahead. Something makes me feel it's going to be a great ride!

Did I just say "ride"? Of course, that's why the horse. It's white, reiterating the qualities I'm beginning to yearn for.

The homogeneity checks itself in time to give rise to a picture that's becoming clearer by the minute, and I daresay, more beautiful, as I go along. I was probably naive, even impulsive, maybe a little restless too. But I was hopeful, willing to explore, and eager to learn. The white horse, my companion, my guide, my friend, the reflection of my aspiration to see the world, experience the myriad hues, and enrich my soul, will take me there...

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"Voici mon secret. Il est très simple : on ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. "

[Here's my secret. It is very simple: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; What is essential is invisible to the eye.]