Dear Pipsqueaks,
"Oh man. I'm scared."
That moment, throughout the whole event, stood out the most for me. What happened? Well, it all started with a random call for 'Seafood by the Sea' dinner in Klang.
We all met up and took one full van-load of 6 adults + 2 kids. Guided by Google Map, we got lost the first time - it took us to some temple instead- but eventually we made enough loops to take us in the right direction. Honestly, I don't remember much of dinner as I had to post the final results of our Junior championships that just concluded in Bangkok a couple of hours ago. (Yes, that's the most 'updated' we can be since I work offsite - have to wait for photos and do some research before posting just to give enough background info. People assume it to be an easy job, but let me assure you that it takes a little something more to sound make something sound remotely exciting without actually seeing any of it happening. Thanks to my imagination, I can whip up one or two here and there).
Anyway, so off topic already. As I was saying, dinner went by so quick that by the time I realised what I was eating, we were about done. Since someone had mentioned to drop by i-City when we passed it earlier, we thought why not as it's on our way home. Destination entered and off we went.
It thundered during the first few minutes of our drive. Then joined by droplets, which soon turned into heavy rain. By then, we could only see the distance of maybe about a car or two. Following ever so closely to Google, it led us down a dark and trafficless industrial parkside road. At that exact moment, I remember we were still singing along emotionally to Adele's "Make you feel my love", when all of a sudden, our car was half-deep in water. The co-driver panickally advised the driver to get out of the water before it sinks into the engine, but realising the distance to get out of the water going forward was a long one, she decided to do a u-turn instead. Without having much vision at all, the vehicle actually rammed right up the sidewalk and down, probably forcing more water up the engine. By the time we made a full 180 degrees, the engine died.
Oh my, the water is super deep. Look how dirty it is. Can't even see what's under...
Then, it was a bit like the moment before I bungy-jumped off the Kawaru Bridge where I said to myself, "Oh man, I'm scared", but then followed by a "Oh f*** it" before I hopped into the water. I mean, it wouldn't have been so bad if I could actually see clearly, but with the rain in my face while attempting to walk through mid-thigh high waters...just not something I could see myself doing. Some more, help push a van out of water.
Fair enough, I had a gut feeling of invincible-ness. That whatever you throw at me, I could succeed. Now I think back, all the things I thought I couldn't do before jumping into the water became all the things I did. All it took was to jump. (Not really trying to promote Nike, but their slogan "Just do it" seems ever so fitting). Easier said than done, but you would never know what could happen if you didn't, just like I wouldn't know that I, being such a princess sometimes, can help push a van out of thigh-high flood in the crazy rain. Yes, we don't know what we don't know, but we can always find out.
It's funny - the only thing I worried about most was loosing my flipflops in the flood. So trivial yet was the only thing floating in my mind. The rest, I guess deep down, I had no doubt could be done. We secretly know our potential, so don't ever sell yourself short of what you can accomplish - especially when the situation calls for it.
Life tests us all in different ways through different challenges. Recognize them and rise to the occasion - for it is the key to unlocking your potential.
Post-Story: Eventually, help came in a form of a very skilled uncle driving a tow truck. They did try to jump start the engine, but considering how flooded with water it was, it was doubtful to start. So, following a friend's car, we towed the van from Klang back to SS2. Overall, a very eventful way to end the weekend I must say. Now, bed time at 3am.
(view from the driver's seat on a tow truck - though I'm not quite sure why she's holding onto the wheel when the car is chained to a lifted platform...lol)
(licence plate was no where to be found - yes, we did send a search party after the flood had subsided...or maybe we found half of it - too hectic for updates!)