Gathering..hmn.. i wonder what crossed your mind when you see the term.
Yesterday (05112006) is part of the two local joint festivals long weekend..gathering is such a thing that is hard to come by when everyone started working...despite some may have the heart and thought of wanting to throw one..it doesnt necessarily manage to fit into everyone's schedule, not to mention squeezing in as
everyone's top priority.
i've met with three group of friends yesterday. first and foremost is a highschool mate ..of whom one guided me through my highschool cup debate competition during the final year. it is a miracle that given his and my schedule, equally busy
i would say, we still manage to meet up every now and then, for a meal and then
a movie.. we ended up going to a dessert store, where, out of boredom, he started estimating what's the store's turnover like..income wise, overhead expenses,
reasons why a chain business would wanna keep such a store operating given that
it would not be much profit generating..wise man he is. if you were to guess that his profession is business oriented, no no, wrong guess. he is actively invoived in legal framework field..someone of whom, i find myself, feeling rather comfortable and secure around with, we dont chat much and i dont mind it.. (you'd see why, in latter paragraphs).
The second group of friends of whom i met up with, are xclassmates from primary
schools. tonnes of primary school gathering were organized recently..but as mentioned ..we didnt manage to find those gathering fitting into our schedule, nor priority list. as a result, we threw our own party. the location was picked at some old town tiny alley's restaurant where one would rarely notice..the three of
us always claim the 1st 3 positions in class every end of academic years. do i miss those years of glory if you wondered, i dont quite think so..life moves on after all. it is a typical girlish gathering..girls updating each other about other girls' romance, wedding invitation, educational achievement.. blah blah blah.
.
the third group of friends are whom i met via internet, all of us shared the same interest--photography (you could visit us at www.photomalaysia.com).... there'
s gathering almost every weekend in this "association" where consist of approximately 2000 registered members, one would meet fella hobbyist from different age
group, background etc etc etc..we would normally pick an easily identified location, (normally starbucks, for god knows why despite we have delifrance, coffeebean, TGI Friday etc etc etc other cafe n outlets)...sit there for couple of hours
and chat, and proceed onwards to mamak store (lower end cafe/stall that offer cheaper priced food and drinks run by muslim indian, something like cafe in Paris
)
I am never a big fan of gathering.. ..i find those gossips of updating each other of academic achievement, partner as well as marriage..somewhat boring..and in
a way, i find them...well..unless if you are bored, or unless you've got nothing
better to do that particular night and if you are bored to death staring four falls, you'd like to see a human being or two, mean time dont mind inhaling some
" second hand cigratte smell", not to mention slyvia of fella chatter flying all
directions hitting your face, ur arm, your laps..and them happily overload you
with their memory of glory times regardless if his listener will need those details of their 20-years-old history, each and every details of how they suck up to
boss' shoes.....then, if you could consider those details, slyvia and skills beneficial, it could be a not-so- end-of-the-priority-list pass time activity. personally, i find it tiring. of course, unless, you were to pick a right gathering
to attend, not forgetting to pick the spot when u are about to lower ur butt wisely...choosing an interesting chat buddy, or at least someone of whom you know,
you'd learn something from what he/ she has to said. i find that we have slowly
emerge into an era where everyone is too lonely, too busy throwing out thier thoughts, having huge desire and eagerness show the world his "true colours," what he
knows, having fear that once he stop and listen, he will just go along with the flow like a dead fish; and no one is patient
enough to listen.
While some thought them sitting around being quiet are totally harmless, not realising that some of their behaviour are indeed harmful to their neighbouring attendees. the photography gathering i had for instance, there are photographers that chat alot showing off their experience, but there are also another school believer that fully utilised this opportunity firing their shots, making fellow attendees their free models, not to mention innocently (or purposely) aiming their
bigassed flash at other's eyes, (as a friend commented ), not remember to see where their flash is pointing to, in which there are ppl right in front of the flash's firing rangecausing those who cannot take the constant flashes, thus suffering from headaches, dizziness, to migraine..and not as if they would have suffcient courtesy to buy victims some valiums or even panadols..
times after times i ponder, what is the motive for someone who dont mind taking
all the hassle and trouble to organise a gathering,the following list are what i
could summarize at date with my countable experience:
1. he intend to make money out of it as he see such event as profit generating
2. he is too lonely in his own small little world hence he wants someone to him
boasting [ or sharing, if you want]
3. he/she set eyes on someone dearly but is too timid to ask the person out on 1
on 1 basis, hence he has to arrange for a group outing, hiding amoung friends to cover up his tricks on his sleeves.
4. he has got news he wanna distribute which he thinks it is big enough inviting
everyone out physically rather than doing it the cyber way.
5. he truely have the good intention of meeting up with friends he adores dearly
, wanting to catch up because he care.
Of the above mentioned 5, i must admit it is a very rare occasion where i meet organizer natured no.5. May b i should be kicked back to the olden days for appreciating different values compare to the way our society is running now..somehow,
true friendship, despite existing, are merely surviving by the sharp thorny edge of world of commercialisation that is flooded with cronyism. i cant help but
pondering, yes, some gathering are organized out of good intention, some good old mates still "kinda " care about each other, but what benefit would it generate
to informed or to be informed of who had gotten married late and who is about to get engaged with who, of those whom and who are people you have not seen/ met
ever since the day you left primary school / secondary school? i cant help but thinking this move, in particular, is noneother but to satisfied one's very busy
body & and enjoy -to-gossip as well as " see, i know this juicy news but you dont, hence attract "envious" look" nature.
it is sad, but, we'll survive. (quote: chicken little, gsc One Utama Phase 2 PJ,
Malaysia)
