Sometimes, we do much injustice when we confine something as fluid and versatile as water, into an ice cube tray. We cannot hold water in our hands without it escaping from our grasp, so this is the only way for us to capture them and hold them in our palms in absolute certainty.
As we pour them, droplet by droplet, into the fanciful trays, we cast them in our moulds and assign them to our predetermined shapes. We put them in the freezer, and leave them in the cold for a while. Shortly after, we have nice pieces of well-formed ice, in an orderly fasion. No one is out of place, no exceptions, no differences other than the ones we have allowed.
But as soon as they leave the ice box, they start to shed away their defined edges, and return to their uncongealed state, to a free-form substance again.
29.8.11
21.8.11
Water in the Mail
At times, I liken the act of communication to sending a parcel of water over the mail. Tom wants to send a message to Jerry, so he folds a piece of paper into an envelope, and pours some water inside. But before he can seal the top of the envelope, he realises that all the water have seeped through the paper.
Then he takes some time to think about his failed attempt, and decides to give it a second shot. This time, he puts the water in the refrigerator, and allows it to freeze into a cube of ice. Then he takes out the ice cube and wraps it in an aluminium foil to place it in a box. Indeed, the box reaches Jerry, but when Jerry opens the box and unwraps the package, the melted ice spills out from the box and onto the floor. He looks at the mess and ponders over the real intentions of the person who mailed the parcel.
Determined to give it one last chance, Tom decides that he is willing to spend some money to get his point across. He purchases a vacuum flask, pours the water into the flask, and brings it to the post office to send out as a registered mail. The postman takes the parcel, dumbs it in his huge bag of mail, and carries them all to the door of the recipient. When he reaches Jerry's house, he rings the door bell several times, and does not get an answer. He takes out the registered article collection form and sticks it on the door, as part of the evidence of his delivery attempt. On the note, it says, "There is a package for you. The postman came at 3pm, but you were not around. Please collect your package at the nearest post office, or contact us to arrange for a second delivery."
Misrepresented, misunderstood, or missed altogether.
Then he takes some time to think about his failed attempt, and decides to give it a second shot. This time, he puts the water in the refrigerator, and allows it to freeze into a cube of ice. Then he takes out the ice cube and wraps it in an aluminium foil to place it in a box. Indeed, the box reaches Jerry, but when Jerry opens the box and unwraps the package, the melted ice spills out from the box and onto the floor. He looks at the mess and ponders over the real intentions of the person who mailed the parcel.
Determined to give it one last chance, Tom decides that he is willing to spend some money to get his point across. He purchases a vacuum flask, pours the water into the flask, and brings it to the post office to send out as a registered mail. The postman takes the parcel, dumbs it in his huge bag of mail, and carries them all to the door of the recipient. When he reaches Jerry's house, he rings the door bell several times, and does not get an answer. He takes out the registered article collection form and sticks it on the door, as part of the evidence of his delivery attempt. On the note, it says, "There is a package for you. The postman came at 3pm, but you were not around. Please collect your package at the nearest post office, or contact us to arrange for a second delivery."
Misrepresented, misunderstood, or missed altogether.
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