A Weekend of Animal Crossing.
Sometimes, we have to kick back and observe the beautiful world around us.
We need time to kick back and loosen up. As much as I love my work and believe in getting more done — I have to admit that going in the opposite direction can kick-start another wave of productivity.
I have had an affinity with chickens recently. It started from searching for an ideal background for a video shoot. And then, I came across Maria’s story on eggs. This morning, chickens literally brushed past my feet.
Let me start with my first animal crossing encounter.
It was Friday morning at 6 am. I was out with my smartphone, looking for a quiet spot to shoot video content at the neighborhood park. I had no luck that morning. The neighborhood park was hogged by territorial imperialists practicing their tai-chi, line dance, and many other activities by then.
And so, I walked down the river, searching for a parcel of quiet land. 10 minutes later, I walked myself into a spot that I have never been.
It was an area filled with shop-houses, and they deal with products and services from the Industrial Age. There were furniture crafting & distribution, metal scrapping, junk collection and etc. I found it beautiful. It was like a time capsule that brought me back to Singapore in the 1980s.
I continued to walk along the river. And then, just so suddenly, I started hearing morning chimes from roosters that have disappeared from the streets of my country. Wow, how long has it been since I heard them? The cuckoos got louder as I walked, and just like that, they appeared right in front of me.
I remembered thinking to myself: -
“Wow. How long has this been?”
I got fascinated, so I stood there watching them scream at the top of their voices for the next 10 minutes. I do not know how to describe this. Is it noise, or is it music? With a renovation, it is pure noise. Simple and easy. With the chicken chime, well. For the sake of the long-lost rooster, I will have to classify it as music.
And I shot my video content there with the roosters in the background. They obviously objected furiously to my actions as they chimed non-stop during the recording. I had fun trying to raise my voice to drown theirs. Haha!
And then, I rushed back to write and publish my story for the morning before I start work. I was about to exit Medium when I saw Maria Rattray’s story on eggs on my homepage. I will attach it here.
It was a brilliant read. It made me think about the relationship I had with eggs when I was growing up until today. In truth, eggs are like humans. They have the devil’s mind and the angel’s voice.
First, eggs are good for us because their rich in proteins. Then, eggs become bad for us because they have protein, and oh my, they come with cholesterol. Then that is followed by eating the white because it is good for the body, leave out the yellow. The yolk is bad for health. And it was swiftly followed by eating the whole thing produces more benefits than eating parts of it.
You know, scientists, nutritionists, health advocates, moms & pops had said so much that it is astounding. To me, well. Eggs looked the same as they did 30 years ago. Same shape. Same taste. As with all foods, I eat it in moderation. I do not need the guy (or girl) in white lab coats telling me that eating it is good or bad. For me, I avoid excess.
That was Friday.
I was dragged out of the house by my family this morning. We have apparently planned for a Saturday morning walk in the National Park without me knowing. Okay, okay. Maybe I did. It was at the furthest end of the back of my mind.
I was tasked to search for a pavilion for a picnic when we arrived. As I approached an empty one, distractions started appearing. 2 chickens crossed my path. There were no morning chimes this time.
Maybe they became hoarse after screaming at the top of their lungs 2 hours ago. I did not even know they were crossing the pathway. Feathers from the chicken scout brushed past my feet.
[YouTube Hyperlink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Ha-78UPwA]
I jumped.
I remembered thinking, WHAT THE F**K IS THAT!
They turned out to be my best companions for the next 2 hours. My family members were busy fighting for air-time. Actually, that is an understatement. They were all talking at the same time. I imagined that the lift will never deliver us to the level we need to go when we are in it. We will be so busy talking that no one actually bothers to press the wretched “10” button.
The 2 chickens realized that I needed company, so they accompanied me for the next couple of hours. Of course, even chickens transact with commercial interests. I know they are here for the bread crumbs I am throwing out. I am uncertain if they embrace the idea of love and companionship.
It was a funny sight watching Anthony and Sally going back and forth between me and the furthest edge of the pavilion. When I sensed that they are about to abandon me, I dropped bread crumbs near my feet. When I saw Sally pecked Anthony by his cheek, I threw bread crumbs at a further spot to separate the 2. Food is power.
Feeding Sally and Anthony, watching them go back and forth allowed me to drain the noise in my head. I needed that because sales revenue has been zig-zagging this week. The progress of new projects sputtered due to human dynamics. Some stories that I have published did not do well either.
Somehow, Sally seemed to know that. She pecked me a couple of times. Maybe she wants to wake me through physical pain. God damn it, Sally, it hurts!
But it was nice, actually. We need to be pricked at times.
When we are surrounded by people who are too nice to give us thoughtful critique, maybe we got to find our way to get them.
Maybe chickens can do the job.
Aldric
About the Author:
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure.
Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.
