6.20am: I muffle the dreaded phone alarm and psych myself for the morning rigmarole. Note to self: consider calling it “mighty-fist-strikes-tempting-mattress rigmarole” instead to get that kung fu vibe.
6.25am: To the elevator, to the blank stares of the 8th floor early birds. There’s a five- to eight-second delay between the ‘ping’ of the approaching lift and the opening of the doors; not life-threatening, but a wee bit irritating to the time-constrained guy who’s just hurriedly combed his hair. Often sans mirror.
6.30am: The hunt for the trusty Kia is afoot. I’ve parked more than 500 times in the same place. I therefore occasionally forget where I’ve deposited my petrol-powered pal. Ah, right between the humongous Hummer and the metallic-blue Camaro convertible. Of course.
6.45am: Zoom off to drop off my kids to school. Looking even grumpier than I am, they’ve already given me the customary mano, a unique Filipino ritual of showing respect to elders. “Mano”, the Spanish word for “hand”, also refers to the act of taking an elder’s hand and reverently bringing the back of the palm to one’s forehead. It provides a daily dose of heritage, faith, and esteem; it is also a reminder that I’m the old 80s guy trying to maintain his coolness among my generation Y and Z progeny.
6.50am: Weaving with ease through the smooth pre-jam traffic. I like the squarish design of the city of Abu Dhabi city; it makes life easier for my geographically-challenged self when I get lost. The metropolis exudes a unique sense of progressiveness and order while sticking to a conservative aura.
7.15am: Three to four Radio One songs later and I am back to square one. Pre-8am parking within the Hamdan area is a driver’s delight; slots are aplenty, and there’s still no meter. I inhale the inviting olfactory fiesta of freshly-baked manakeesh and steaming chai as I enter the building.
7.20am: I plunge into the frenzy of taking a quick shower, dousing myself with hygiene essentials, and hurriedly putting on what my eldest often rates as egregious clothing. Whenever I get the chance, I look down from the balcony to catch a glimpse of the multicultural fanfare building up several stories below before I exit the domicile.
7.45am: I steer to old Mazda Street, a stone’s throw away from Abu Dhabi Mall. I love the secluded location of my office, which allows me to find a parking space within five minutes tops. This part of town mirrors Abu Dhabi at the crossroads of being a quiet Emirate and a dynamic, bustling regional business centre. With Salam Street construction to the left and the new Yas Island complex to the right, I can’t help but wonder how the capital will look and feel just a few months from now.
8.05am: While waiting for the desktop to thrum to life, I reflect on how mundane my morning routine is considering that I live and work in one of the most affluent cities in the Eastern hemisphere. I have this crazy idea on how to spice things up, but then that’s another story …
Lambert Espedido III
