I asked you at the beach
Swan dove headfirst into the blue
Was this a crazy reach?
The heavy rain during the day, the beach, and the waves sculpted a boring sunset scenario in my mind. But his mind wouldn’t say the same.
“You know what … I remember something … pretty interesting,”
“Oh, you really bring your encyclopedia everywhere we go,”
“So, do you want to listen, or not?”
“Have I ever refused?”
He chuckled.
“The heavy rain … it will bring a clear and beautiful sunset later. But wait … I might end up telling you about the philosophy of life, even if the prelude feels more like a lesson in Biology. You OK?”
“Again, have I ever refused?”
“Alright.”
His mind is pretty much a walking encyclopedia. The word ‘smart’ does not do him justice. He is a genius, and I admire him.
“Just like crying helps us remove stress hormones from our body, the rain does the same. When you cry, the act of crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the ‘mind’ behind our ability, to regulate the ‘rest and digest’ processes. That’s why we often feel better after crying our hearts out.”
I opened my ears wider and looked at him. “A good start. Tell me more,” I said.
“Just think of the heavy rain as tears and the stress as dust or dirty particles in the atmosphere. Simply put, after the tears come out, the stress is gone, and you feel better. The rain also plays an important part in making us feel better through the beautiful sunset.”
“So you’re saying that the rain washes away the dust so the sunset will come out nicely?”
“Bingo,” he nodded.
“After the rain washes away the dust, the sky dresses in a vibrant sunset. The setting sun prefers to appear beautifully in crimson and gold when there is no dust or pollution. That’s why today’s sunset will bring you so much peace. Not to get your hopes up too high, but scientifically, that’s pretty much possible. So you do not need to worry, okay? The sunset today will bid you grateful.”
Dang … I think I falling for him, again. It reminds me of the ‘Edge of Desire’ that he played at the Stanley Park – when Vancouver once seemed so far away from home, but my brain cells suddenly woke up by the guitar riff of my favorite song from John Mayer; and I found a new home.
“But good things take time. You won’t feel better immediately after crying. You need some time. Not long, but still … time plays a role. The same goes for the sunset. If the rain stops now, the sunset will have time to show its beautiful crimson and gold colors later.”
I’m not good at hiding smiles, so every time he tells a story to be published in our minds, my eyes brighten, and my cheeks widen. The rain used to worry me, but it doesn’t worry him. And when he tells me the reason why, the rain doesn’t worry me anymore, because it doesn’t worry him. I trust him, and the rest is glorious history, just like Niki said.
The scientific explanation about crying and the rain – two different things I didn’t know held such similar meanings – is one thing. But his choice of words – the way he wraps up the explanation with words that never fail to amaze me – is another thing.
And I want everyone to know that – even if the story I wrote is a might life hanging around in my mind – it embodies him. The story I wrote truly mirrors him in the universe that we live in.
Just like Panadol eases people’s pain, his words do the same.
So I hope he knows – he probably does – that aside from the salt air that is celebrated more every year at this time, the world also celebrates his existence. The dawn that brings smiles and warmth, the afternoon rain that washes the pain away, and the setting sun that paints the happiness and gratitude, all celebrate his existence. So do I and millions of people in this world.
So … happy 25, Mark.
As you wish happiness to others today, I hope happiness comes to you every day. And just as the sunset fills me with gratitude, your presence mirrors its role.
