Establishing a Ritual Trip

My family lives in KL. Most of our friends are in KL. There’s more things to do in KL. So, every other week or so, the whole family (just 3 of us + 1) make the trip up to KL. It’s a leisurely 1.5 hours drive but with Eijaz around, it has turned into a ritual of sorts, complete with rules to follow for a stressless journey:

1. We prefer to travel when he is asleep. So, usually we get on the road at night during his bedtime. This is important as he has a short attention span of maybe 45 mins max before he starts squirming around and crying his lungs out. Older ppl will tell you to leave him in his seat to train, but older ppl have worse hearing usually. If not at night, then his naptime during day. The longer we maximize his sleeping time in the car, the better.

2. All bags must be packed and in the car before he falls asleep, else it will take out from sleeping time in the car. Selected toys, milk and books are to be ready by the side of his car seat in case he wakes up.

3. Once all is packed, the car is started up and aircond left running for a few minutes to cool down car. His favourite Rockabye Baby lullabies (Beach Boys, Led Zepp & The Cure) are on cue to play. Only then is His Royal Sleepyhead is brought out of the house and into the car seat.

3. The transferring process to the car seat is something The Wife is particularly good at. Usually goes without incident. Once he’s all buckled up, we’re off. But it is vital to maintain relative silence in the car, with only the lullabies playing. Which means no talking. Which means this booming, powerful, commanding voice is reduced to a mere whisper. A shame.

4. If all goes well, he’ll sleep all the way. However, should there be refueling stops or toilet breaks, chances are he will wake up. So avoid that.

5. Its the boredom that gets to him more than the seat. If you take him out its alright. But that’s a risk you don’t want to take on a highway. You can control your car but you can’t do anything about the cars around you. So, baby in baby seat whenever car is moving!

That’s the ritual we go through, I know we should expose him to getting used to sleep with noise (life is not a library I would say) but everytime I suggest this, it gets shot down unless I’m the one who puts him to sleep after.  Anyway, there’s plenty of noise to get used to after. Enjoy the quiet now, son.

Updated on a mobile. Phew!

A Parting Love Letter

Dear Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8,

If you are reading this, you will know, deep in your sole, that we have parted ways.

I still remember the day I bought you. You were the replacement to my Asics GT-2140, using my discount coupon from the Genting Trailblazer 08. What caught my eye about you is your yellow, white and grey persona that is striking but also maintains a  degree of seriousness, a shoe that requires a level of commitment and passion.

Being a support shoe that you are to support overpronators and low arch feet like mine, I could feel your patented Duomax cushioning when I first broke you in. Oh, did you remember that time, Brooks?? It was a foggy Sunday morning at Lake Gardens, I was uncertain on your ability after having 3 wonderful years with Asics. But I gave you a chance, I slipped you on, wrapped your laces around tight and off we went. We never looked back from that, did we?

I continued my training with you and you would greet me with welcoming, wanting eyes when I got back from work, for me to put you on so we could pound the gravel, hard and fast. You never let the force bouncing back from the asphalt hit my feet and hurt me, your cushioning absorbed it, lovingly some might say, proving  that you do care for me. For days when I was too tired or lazy, you gave me wicked glances from under the shoe rack, mocking me, calling me the f-word. I was hurt sometimes, but now I know, like a grumpy parent, that you only wanted the best for me.

How could I ever forget you? You were there with me when I ran my first half marathon at Std Chartered KL 2009, 21 km seemed impossible to me at one point. but when I remember I had you, I felt warm, secure and deep down inside, I knew we were going to cross that line together. We went on and finished 2 more half marathons together. Don’t you ever forget that.

You are not just a shoe, no. When I slip you on, you stop being a high-tech cohesion of rubber, fabric and ropes.  You become a part of me, my own flesh and blood. We talk to each other, understand one another. When I slip you on, it is as if neurons have sprouted from your inner sole to my feet, sending signals to my brain; C’mon, Be Faster. Stronger. Better. And as a part of me, we together clocked a total distance of 565 km…..TOGETHER!

But with everything, this too, shall pass. I know you will understand when I’m saying to a new pair of New Balance 1224. While your heart may burn when all you see see is her supple, soft cushioning, her shiny acrylic design motifs, please remember that you will always hold this place in my heart and I will still continue to use you as gym shoes. A new journey, for us, together again.

 

 

Love,

A Runner