Chasing Cars

Something extraordinary happened last week on the way to Queens Bay Mall during lunch. It was a last minute plan to find a special gift for a dear friend. Just after I drove out of the office car park, Baby’s car was in front of me at the main junction. I purposely drove very close behind her and flashed a few times to get her attention. As expected, she sped off, switched lanes and swerved in between cars to leave me behind. I laughed at what just happened as we enjoyed teasing each other in a fun way. I tried to catch up with her. At the 1st traffic light, I could still see part of her car although there were a few cars ahead. By the time I reached 2nd traffic light, she was totally out of my sight. I could imagine her cheeky smile when I finally lost her. Just seconds after that, I noticed a familiar car. Not sure if it belongs to a dear friend, the one I’m buying a gift. Thinking that it wasn’t her, my mind started to wander what to get her.

Once the traffic light turned green, I decided to catch up with that car. Just before the forked junction, the car sped off and I couldn’t determine if it went straight ahead or turned left, the way that I was heading. I was disappointed for the 2nd time that day. Just when I was about to give up, unexpectedly at the 3rd traffic light, the car was exactly on my left lane, slightly ahead of me. Out of curiosity, I drove close enough to see the driver. To my surprise, it was really her, my dear friend whom I was chasing after Baby left me earlier. It was the 1st time we met driving on the road. I briefly acknowledged her and continued thinking of her perfect gift.

At the 4th traffic light, her car was exactly behind mine. At that point of time, I knew that we were heading to Queens Bay Mall, which used to be our ‘sacred place’ for Friday lunch. For the rest of the way there, all I could think was it would be the last time we drove together. Though we were heading the same way, we went separate ways once reached the mall. She knew exactly where she was going while I was still struggling to find her perfect gift. I promised to myself that it would be the first beautiful thing that catch my eyes … just like the way she caught mine.

There's something about the 'chase' that lingers in my mind until today. I realized that I was disappointed when couldn't catch up with my dear friend instead of Baby. It felt more disappointing to lose someone I'd like to get close with than the one I've been chasing after. The closest reflection I could relate this incident is quoted from The Little Prince, "But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.". What I do know for sure is that even though the 'catch' lasted only for a moment, the 'triumph' feels like it lasts forever.

"Mirror ... Mirror in my hand, tell me where do I stand?"

XOXO

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
We'll do it all, everything, on our own

We don't need anything or anyone

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lay with me

And just forget the world

I don't quite know how to say how I feel

Those three words are said too much

They're not enough

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lay with me

And just forget the world

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time

Chasing cars

Around our heads

I need your grace to remind me

To find my own

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lay with me

And just forget the world

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am

All that I ever was

Is here in your perfect eyes

They're all I can see

I don't know where

Confused about how as well

I just know that these things

Will never change for us at all

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lay with me

And just forget the world