Nevispages weekly feature by Curtis Morton Sr
The way I see it, this COVID-19 experience is teaching us lessons that cannot be taught in any of the top universities in the world. If we live to graduate from this examination of our humanity, we should be a kinder and better people.
I made some interesting observations this week. After all, I could not help it, as I was forced to wait in several long lines for hours. So, I realized that those waits have been a lesson in themselves because I have publicly expressed it before: I HATE WAITING! I hate to wait on people and I hate to make people wait on me. Either way, it’s not my kettle of fish. So, I have learnt to be more patient and observant while I wait.
So here are some of the observations:
One day I was in the Water Department line, in order to pay a bill. Well, the line started from all the way down from the main road. It was a long and tedious journey. I saw one guy who is about my age, if not younger, passed everybody and came back not long after, indicating that his bill was paid.
‘How did you get that done,’ was the natural query. ‘Well, some people talking about their age in order to get in the senior citizens’ line, but they just look at the white hair on my head and I get the green light.’
Well I newa!
In that same line, I watched a young lady. She moved like a real con artist. She too passed everyone, but for all intents and purposes, she was loudly engaged in a conversation on her phone.
Boy, how I wished I had known her number. I would have called it and am sure everyone would have heard her phone ring. Well, she made this big show like she was talking on her phone and eased in the line behind a fella, who was halfway up. I saw the querying faces of some of the people who she had passed but no one challenged her. Apparently, the confidence she exuded in making her move, cast doubts in the minds of her would-be challengers.
In that same Water Department line (I told you I was there for a while), I saw a Chinese lady. Another Chinese lady came by to tell her something. Of course, they did not want us to understand what they were saying, so they had their exchanges in Chinese. I heard something about ‘Chin-ping ling…’ and something like ‘moo lang.’
It was not my business really, so I was not bothered. However, the guy behind me, asked me if I understood what they were saying. My response was immediate: ‘They say the line too long!’ Well, everybody around there, including the two Chinese ladies burst out laughing. At least I was able to make their day.
Then I had to go to the Cable TV line. That line extended a good way up the Upper Prince William Street. I sighed and settled in for the long haul. However, God arranged it so that soon after, one of the employees of the company, informed that if anyone was paying by cheque or card, they could join a much shorter line. It’s the first time that I was really happy that I had a chequing account!
In another line (not to be named, for the purposes of this class), I admired the fact that each customer was given a number. Well, the security officer was doing well: ‘Twenty –seven; twenty-eight; twenty nine…’ However, my head reeled when she called the next numbers: ‘Tuty; tuty-one; tuty –two……FARTY!’
Well I newa!
It sounded so vulgar.
Then there are other lines, where persons are suddenly appearing in front of others towing the line and stating that they were there all along, but were sitting somewhere nearby.
It is also really amazing that a security officer can open the door to some masked individuals and allow them into business places handling thousands of dollars and politely show them where to go! Several months ago, from the time that they saw that mask, they would have already pressed the panic button and may have even pulled out their guns!
Another lesson learnt, is that some of us have become more conservative with the limited cash available and have learnt to be more creative and innovative in all of our dealings.
Yes, covid-19 is a huge game changer and if we learn the lessons well, we will be better for it.
God will never give us more than we can bear and we can use this stumbling block as a huge stepping stone.
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?