3:45 AM: Annoying Teen Parties, Lost Sleep, and Stooping Down

3:45AM. For some who know me well, they would know that it's not hard for me to wake up at this time. Yet any normal person (assuming I'm somewhat normal) would really have a hard time waking up at this time especially if that normal person started sleeping at around 1:00AM. What is more irritating is that if your work wouldn't start until 10AM. You do the math. And you'll get the message.

It was supposed to be a long restful sleep. With the nightly Dusit Thani Hotel escapades with the praise team, it really should be a long sleep. SInce last week, I frequently arrive at home late, thus, sleep late.

Then again, some people forgot what the word respect means. At night, it probably (just probably) means keeping the noise down as some people need to sleep sometimes. You wouldn't really know if the person next door came home late or anything. You probably wouldn't even care, but it's already a known fact that people sleep at night and noise wakes you up. So if you are a nocturnal person, you should be really be wary of making any noise.

It just so happens that some people forgot that.

3:45AM, Tonight (May 15, 2009). I was disturbed by loud music and high frequency chatting voices from the other house. They were created by highschool drop outs and angsty teenagers while having their nightly worthless party. It was the nth time in a row. I didn't mind the voices, but the loud music was already too much. I wouldn't actually mind if they did it occasionally, but the fact was they have been doing it for quite sometime now. I wasn't the only one disturbed by the way.  My 81 year old grandfather whom I share the room with, was already up. Judging from the way he sat down, his sleep was disturbed, as well. Take note that I lost sleep after that.

At first impulse, I wanted to hit the window with the monoblock chair beside my bed. It also crossed my mind to use instead one of those industrial-sized wrench (the giant type used for industrial water pumps) my father kept under my bed (yes, he kept all 4 of them under my bed). I also thought of throwing smoke bombs, tear gas, pepper spray, hammers, saws, and all sorts of things.

I thought otherwise. I wouldn't go so low as make such a ruckus. They were already good for nothing excuses for high school drop outs so why bother joining in their fray? (Note: I am not angry, see choice of words for proof )

So instead of even barking with an angry voice, I yelled with an almost pleading voice to keep it down. I didn't yell curses (even though I was itching to do it). I didn't throw anything (even though I really would like to give it a try!!  ) And seriously speaking, it's not even an angry voice. It was more of a request using a loud voice. I said, "Pakihinaan naman po yung tugtog. May trabaho pa po yung iba sa atin dito!" (No stir! That's what I said!)

My point was that maybe some of them might be too immune to shouts and bouts of cursing. After all, it was their way of life. Cursing, shouting, and picking fights seemed all so natural to them, that doing those very same things to them won't affect them at all. In fact, when I yelled my request, I swear I could hear them mumbling and grumbling like they used to whenever we scold them not to flirt on the roof of our vehicle (Those people were teenagers by the way!). So a show of force would only turn into a tug of war.

Moreover, I remembered what my teacher said back then: "Never stoop down to their level!" Cursing, and throwing things at them may be the best of times for me. But that would also mean losing. They lost their respect for other people, how much better am I if I lost mine to them by shouting and nagging? And would I still stand straight and still profess to be a respectable Christian after doing what impulse tells me to do? I don't think so. I guess sometimes, you have to show how much respect you deserve by treating them the same amount respect. If you wanted to be treated like a real Christian (In medieval times, that would be a very different concept) or even just a real human (even if you're not), show them how to do it by doing it to them. How high you are isn't determined by how high they look at you but by how high you look at them.

Whoa! What am I doing? My rant just turned into an introspection!

Post Script: I still wonder what it would be like if I threw down those things I mentioned a while ago. Hmmm... They say in baseball that after strike three, you're out! Go figure.