A Friendly Newspaper Vendor.

I parked at the taxi stand at Boon Keng Road MRT along Bendemeer Road after a passenger alighted and decided to take a short break after having driven for more than three hours. It was a  busy Friday night for me. 

The time was about 10pm and I started talking to this elderly newspaper vendor sitting right in front of me. I asked him what time he normally close shop and he said "11pm" in Hokkien. I then spoke to him in Hokkien, asked if I could take his photo, he obliged and I started chatting with him, made small talk and asked him a few more questions. He told me he is more than 70 years old and he is only an employee working part time, three to four days a week earning some pocket money. I offered him a cigarette but he refused as he had his own Indian ones, very cheap, costing $3.50 for twenty five sticks in a bundle. He told me that this stall used to be located across the road and had been doing business for quite a long time already but he has only worked there for about two years. I asked him if there were many commuters using taxis at this stand here and he said not too many. Business for him was quite brisk but for me after half an hour had passed, no potential passengers. 

We were chatting away about everyday life and then it was 10.30pm and I decided to move on.  

The 3 C's

I have often had the pleasure of ferrying passengers who are easy going and possess conversational skills and thereby we enjoy the whole trip. We would chat and somehow talk as if we had been very old friends. If we were in the same age group, then there's even more enthusiasm and excitement in our talks as we can relate to past subjects known only to us. Sometimes when I engage talks with passengers in respect of the 5Cs' which most younger ones have, I never fail to tell them that there are also the famous 3C's that should be taken into account. If asked to explain, then I would tell them that these 3C's are for those more well-versed in the Hokkien dialect.

"Kia C", "Tan C" and "Chay C". I shall explain as thus, the 1st 'C', we say "Kia C" meaning "afraid to die", these group of people are those we see everyday doing all kinds of exercises, such as the popular 'jogging' stuff we witness everywhere, day in and day out, involving the elderly as well as the young, they are the ones who will always be very picky about what they eat, "too oily", too much "sugar or salt" or those with an array of health foods and pills they conscientiously consume each day, they are all afraid to die.

The 2nd 'C', we say "Tan C" which means "waiting to die", now these group belongs to those who are typically boring, without sense of adventure, no interest in anything, will never venture into any new ideas or vocations even knowing that they are more profitable or better than what they have now. But they will still prefer to remain what and where they are indefinitely and live a daily dull routine lifestyle. Don't you think they are just waiting for their 'time' to come'?

And last of all, the 3rd 'C' we say "Chay C" meaning "seeking to die" this particular group of people indulges, engages and gets involved in anything they like, whether its legal or not, dangerous or not or even if its very bad for their health, they could'nt be bothered. Don't you think they are reckless, could'nt care less bunch who knows what they do will get them into very "hot soup" and yet continue to pursue their undesirable destinies?

Well, thats all for now, time for my coffee break and puff, oops, 3rd C!

a woman full of "zest"

While cruising along Hougang Ave 8, at about 10pm, I picked up this elderly woman in her 70's near Street 61. "Hello" and she nodded her head as she got into my cab, seated herself, then shut the door very slowly and asked me to send her to Jurong East Street 13 in Hokkien.

"Ho" I replied also in Hokkien (meaning yes or ok) and started driving. I asked if she was going home and she said "Si-ah" (yes). Its so late, I exclaimed, and she told me that she had been playing 'mahjong' with her friends since 1.00pm that afternoon. I asked if she won some money and she said "Boh lah, tah pai su" (No lah, always lose) like today she lost nearly $400/- dollars, and from then on, she kept talking non-stop all the way without me having to ask her further questions. She sat up and spoke very steadily, about her adventures on board casino ships, Genting Highlands casino and also in gambling dens, other than that, her friends would always invite her for 'mahjong' sessions in their homes. She told me that she is very lucky to have very filial and good children, all 6 of them married, (3 boys and 3 girls), and all of them earn very high salaries. Every month, her children would give her so much money, thousands of dollars, and allowed her to do whatever she likes to do as she pleases. She says she is still fit and strong, and lucky not to have old age illnesses, so just carry on and enjoy what she likes to do, gambling.

"Aiyoh" and heaved a big sigh, only one regret, I don't know how to save money, how to? I am simply addicted to all kinds of gambling. I always lie to my children that I usually go visit my friends for tea, for chit chats or go for short sightseeing trips, but I think they know I try to hide what I do. Still, my children don't question me, but tell me to take care and go ahead enjoy myself.

I told her that she is indeed very lucky and truly blessed to have good children and can lead such a lifestyle and how I wish I can be in her shoes. She smiled and said, "My lah, my lah, boh ho lah, mm tung teh!" (Don't, don't follow, no good) and we both started laughing away as we arrived at her destination. She gave me $20/- "SSHHhh...Gia lah, gia lah!" (Take, take!) as she started to alight.

I said "Kum siah, kum siah, sio sim, sio sim!" (thank you, thank you and careful, careful!)

We waved and I made sure she walked safely to her lift landing before I drove off. Wow!! what a spritely and energetic woman she is, as I drove off, still thinking of what she told me........... I think the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.