meekia

I have a pail

There is a Chinese saying that describes people using a liquid container: Half a pail of water (Ban Tong Shui).

"Half a pail of water" is hurled at those with only half-baked skills, half-baked talents and half-baked achievements.

When the Chinese use "Ban Tong Shui" to describe someone, the choice of tone would inevitably be drenched in disdain and disapproval.
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Janster got some invitation to a bar opening gala thingy and dropped me an ad-hoc invitation when we met to catch up over dinner.

On our way there, he joked about how we were just two lame chaps who refused to conform; two half pails of water in the eyes of many from Island S.

I laughed and disagreed immediately.

"No, no, no, Jan, you've gotten it ALL WRONG. I'm not sure we even have water. Ok, maybe a few drops of sweat and spit But you know what, at the very fucking least, we have these fucking pails. We have arms. AND hands. AND these fucking pails.

Some people don't even have pails!

And someday, we'll find water, and when that happens, by god we'll scoop with vengeance!!!"

I spoke with the verve of a crazed politician. Punching and scooping air.

The cab driver seemed a little bit uncomfortable.
Jan-tha-man? He laughed heartily and enjoyed my silly aimed-at-no-particular-person diatribe.

Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream."

I say --- "I, have a pail."

posted by audaciousjoy @ 2:07 PM