depthq - ccm|mac

I've always wanted to feel how it would feel like to fly: Whizz through the air like a F16 in a warfield, hover and gaze at the beautiful landscapes of the world without the need for Google Earth or expensive travel expenses and perform death defying aerial acrobatics. "How can it ever be possible to fly?!", I said to myself after watching another episode of Smallville, feeling full of envy for Kal-El.

I was cycling in Beijing one day and I realised I was cycling too close to the cars parked next to the road. Suddenly I got pretty paranoid about all the cars that were stationary. I haven't been feeling like this for a long time, but it hit me hard that day. I will routinely check if there's a driver in the car, worried that he'll open the door. Why did I have this fear? Its related to the title of this blog entry and I'll tell you why.

Many years ago while still in schooling, I was cycling to work for a part time job during term break. I was cycling as fast as I could because it was going to be steep slope ahead, a bit of additional momentum would have helped and of course, I was a bit late. There was a taxicab parked on the left side of the road and my destination is just a short distance ahead. As I was going to pass this taxicab, the driver suddenly opened the door, directly blocking my path! I know I have to direct my bicycle to the right, but it was too late. There was nothing I could do. About half a second later, I was in the air. It was the first time I felt weightlessness, maybe for about 1/2 or 1 second later that feeling was gone. I fell on to the ground with a thump and all I felt was pain. No more superman. No more Kal-El. Pain! Pain! Pain! Anger!

I stood up and I wanted to scold the stupid driver. But before I could say anything, he scolded me back for cycling too close to his car. After saying that he realised his own stupidity and ignorance and asked if I was alright. By then, I didn't even want to talk to him and I walked away. And with that also went my curiosity for flying. But of course, if I am Superman, thats another story!