While am generally outdoorsy, my inner heart thrives in the city – for, I have a peculiar obsession. I love flyovers. Yes. Flyovers.
It’s hard to explain, but I’ll try.
My wife says that I’ve never outgrown my inner child. The kids have started naming flyovers along Thika Road after me!
In a world brimming with tight budgets, work deadlines, high taxes, parental responsibilities – I’m truly at my most peaceful whenever I step on a flyover.
If I’m stressed or tired I just need to search for the nearest one.
Unlike my family, I do not like vacations. It always seems like so much work. A ton of things to worry about – luggage, traffic, weather, rude hotel staff and so on.
I asked to skip this year’s Christmas trip to Mombasa.
Wife: As long as you pay our bills, you can have your fill of flyovers!
Kids: Really, Dad? You choose flyovers over us?
No (yes) pun intended.
Me: I just need a bit of me time. You guys can be tiring.
I saw them off at the SGR terminus on 23rd December. Lips pouting.
Oh, I knew they’d really dent my KCB Debit card but I couldn’t wait for the train’s final whistle. Someday, I’ll explain my perception of flyovers to them.
They think it’s the endless loop of cars zipping past, but it’s really about the people in the cars.
It’s always a tiny flash, but I get a glimpse of every face that’s cruising down the highway.
The faces tell me a gazillion stories. If you are keen.
Happy. Sad. Grateful. Angry. Ecstatic. Worried. Fazed. Proud. Grieving. Frustrated. Overwhelmed. Content.
The typical human face can reveal so many emotions. My happiest time is when constructing the emotions and story behind the face, or faces.
People in love are often the easiest to identify. They’re often holding hands. Maybe they are rushing home after their first date. A man will often drive slowly if he’s dropping off his date – if it went well.
I once saw a man sobbing. It broke my heart. I suppose he’d just lost his job, or his business just suffered a major blow. Or, perhaps, their mama passed away or their favorite Barber Shop shut down.
These things will break a man.
There’s the new driver. Ah, you’ll see them hugging the wheel, hands in the proper 3-6 o’clock position.
The veterans? Dear Lord – I’ve shuddered over shirtless men rolling 10-wheeler trucks down the highway, hands-free.
This year, though – my family has unwittingly ruined it all.
Today, I got to my favourite spot on a Thika Road flyover, at 10am. This was their first day in Diani, Ukunda.
The problem is that my phone started vibrating constantly with bank notifications. Seems my family vacationing in South Coast had taken my absence a little too personally.
They forgot to yell at me before they left. Now, they were taking it out on our KCB Debit Card. It is linked to my mobile number.
Who starts their vacation with shopping, I ask. The first swipe was at a mall – sandals, six pairs. What? We have two kids!
Some perfume, a water bottle and, wait – who needed a new swimming costume? They have lots of pairs!
I only enjoyed my day at the flyover during a brief afternoon lull in the swiping. I assumed they had gone for a swim or a beach walk.
I had to go home early afternoon. I couldn’t concentrate no more.
I love it that I can track spending on the KCB Debit card – but, absolutely horrified that I’m paying for a 2kg tub of vanilla chocolate.
