Excess Baggage Payment

Sent off a good friend at the airport the other night.. MZ's off to Thailand for a three month work assignment. Fetched her from the house and saw the poor mum crying. It's for fear of not seeing her again.... Quite dramatic.. It's just a short three months. MZ doesn't long trips often, and the mum needs a little getting used to due to the new job. MZ admited she didn't feel overjoyed to be away from her family for that long. The mum no doubt can be a nag, but she is a lovely woman.

On the way to the airport, she started mentioning what she'll be missing, and what she regretted not to have done earlier. This trip was quite a last minute decision, and she was given only a week's notice to prepare. All is well. She did all she could. She arranged for friends to bring her mum fro therapy and follow-up. She had another friend helping her with the bills. Another one was supposed to pay a visit to her house occasionally, to ensure her brother wasn't up to any mischief. She had to rearrange the schedule for some part time studies and also notify her other classmates to help her collect notes. I was just a backup to everything else. haha. .

Despite all the rearrangements made to slip out of routine, she still didn't feel quite right. I asked her why. She told me she might be extending her stay, if her boss so wills, and that would mean more trouble for her. I told her. "Look dear, you've made all the things possible for life to carry on here without you, so please, don't worry so much. Even if you'd to stay there for a year, I doubt life will stop here because of you." Now, that wasn't much of a consolation. She started badgering me on how heartless I was.

We finally reached the airport. Her unusually large suitcase could have fitted me in. Attempting to inject some jest into the whole situation, I asked whether she had space there inside for me. Looking at me, incredulous that I could still humor her at this moment. She started asking me where she was to go, where to check in, what time to board, what to do inside, what not to bring, and where to get water on board of the plane?! Hmm..

We checked in and the lady at the counter was nice enough to remind her to take out all restricted items from her hand-carried into the suitcase. She had to unlock the suitcase, reveal the undies and lingerie in public just to tuck those objects away. Embarrassing. After checking in of the suitcase, we grab a burger at BK and started wandering around the airport looking at guys (that's me.. ) and at girls (that's her.. ) , books and magazine.

After a while, we came to a counter which had a large sign "Excess Baggage Payment" leveled over the heads of two very voluptuous Malay women. Gosh, talking about excess weight. They were going to charge a tantamount sum to all that dares to come through the airport with extra weight and luggage. This is to ensure all the holidayers will have their mood spoilt, the oversea students will have a bigger hole in their pocket, and to the executives, their due inconveniences to answer to their company. They were gleefully attending to a desperate ang moh couple, convincing them of the policies and reason of charges placed at the counter.

Looking at them, I can't help thinking about the rest of us with the "Excess Baggage". In some stages of our lives, we will get to this counter with the two nice ladies. They will punish you for carrying too much baggage. Even if it wasn't intentional, they will make you pay for it by inflicting a high price. There are people just like that around us. They make you very aware of the unnecessary and depressing memories, constantly reminding you to get over it and yet cannot stop reminding you at the same time. I don't have to pay for something which I desire to carry along at my own will. Anybody out there with the slightest of dignity must be given the right to do so. Why do they have to make it more painful for you? Perhaps, we didn't mean to carry so many luggages along. We were subconsciously taking them along with us in life because we quietly enjoys it?

As MZ walked pass the guards through the glass door, she started waving at me. Determined not to be further humiliated, I merely nodded at her. She started walking away, still waving and smiling, desperate to catch my attention. I couldn't help finally but to break into a big cheeky smile and waved back.

Good thing she didn't bring any excess baggage with her, at least, I tried to appease her mind before she left.

Semplice Simon