Clean the Blackboard

I guess we have to postpone the “Music and Society” topic for a few days. (perhaps it is worth making that topic into series).

Anyway, I am somehow obsessive in keeping certain things tidy, clean, and organized. Such as phone scree, laptop.

From time to time when I use napkins, wet wipes, or lens cloth to clean my monitor, I’d remember the days in school watching fellow classmates cleaning blackboard in the classroom. In my memory, Z is the person who was the best in this task. It was satisfying seeing Z hovering along the platform, mastering the cloth in well-planned route on the surface again and again, leaving a bright clean blackboard without stain. I once asked about the method she used, and what’s the trick to leave no stain on the board. I hope this was not a weird feeling, as I myself like to clean things in the same way sometimes and I consider doing it as a refreshing and peaceful procedure. We do those things repeatedly, and people may view it as redundant work. Sometime the board was cleaned by brushing several times after the cloth, and the classes were starting in a few hours. “What’s the point?” they would ask.

Another major figure who did cleaning dedicatedly, devotedly, and thoroughly was H. The typical term we used to describe was “the spirit of sacrifice.” It was supposed to be a praise, but I felt judgemental every time hearing it. It was kind of formalist when I was the person doing the task. I remember a time when I was wringing the mop cloth with my hands, and D was by the side watching it, probably made a few comments. In that situation, cleaning in a dedicated manner was a demonstration of complaint, rebel, and perhaps protest. It was reaching an inner-reconciliation by extravagantly performing an basic task.

These were my views on cleaning under those circumstances. I do not know but am curious on how the people I mentioned think about when they were, or, are, doing these kinds of tasks. Perhaps there were some senses of feeling ignored and neglected? I have not realized the existence of that in those years until recently. Perhaps it was all about something that make yourself in peace? I am totally in favor. However, the truth is probably always a mixture of weird and inexpressible sentiments.

I constantly wipe away those white little dust on my laptop keyboard with my finger.

I just did.

Good night.