Many years ago, my young son and I happily jumped into those iconic bump cars, the ones you can now only find at carnivals during fiestas. Instead of engaging other riders in one-on-one bumping contest (the essence of bump car-ship), we raced each other instead, far from the rest who were battling it out at the center, choosing to hug the rails which rounded the length of the arena.
Just when we were almost at dead heat and shouting with child-like excitement, a bell suddenly rang and our cars slowly skidded to a halt. Grudgingly, we pulled ourselves from out of the small cars. The entire amazement and magical moment of our brief bumper race is only betrayed by the surprise look on my young man’s face and that said it all. Whaaat?
In another memory, our group’s performance tour was at an end. The train that was taking us directly to Frankfurt airport was like all Deutsche machinery, punctual to a fault. A pretty passenger in front of us was asking me, “so, you must be very excited to go home?
“I merely smiled and said ‘Ja’, but in truth, I was not. In fact, I still didn’t want to go home as yet. As we swished on, I remembered that I had wished then this train missed our stop and proceeded on to Paris or traveled on forever. Yet, the countdown to get off reached zero and my feet painstakingly hit the platform… So, unlike the sudden halt of the bump car, our train had a warning of its own: a clock overhead which called out our ETA. Minute by painful minute.
There’s this poignant lyrical poem by the Brazilian poet, Mario D’ Andrade, My Soul is In a Hurry. Please allow me to quote a few.
My Soul is in a Hurry
I have counted my years and realized that I have less time to live than I have lived so far. I have more past than future.
I feel like this child, that received a box of candies. After fast indulging the first ones, all the sudden realizing, that there are not so many left, and those should be better appreciated and truly enjoyed.
I do not have time for endless gatherings where statutes, rules, processes, and internal regularities are discussed, knowing, that nothing will be achieved.
I don’t have time anymore to bear absurd people, who despite their age have not grown. I don’t have time anymore to fight the mediocrity.
I don’t want to participate in conversations, where inflated egos are parading. I can’t stand manipulators and opportunists. I am annoyed by those envious people, who seek to discredit the most able, in an attempt to take over their position and seize their talent and success.
My time is too short to discuss headlines. I’m aiming for the essential, as my soul is in a hurry – not so many candies left… “
See the connect yet? I only wish for a ringmaster shouting out the numbers, while I bide every precious second. A bump car bell, without warning is a bummer.
