What is fast becoming as common as potholes on the road, skin heads, motorcycles, street children, unemployed person or grandstanding Philippine politicians? You guessed right, it’s the mind boggling Rubik’s Cube.
Little did I know that this 6-colored-swiveling-cube will once again haunt me at this age, and with guilt, became one of my interests while on a week long wedding anniversary celebration. Ti abi.
I have fond memories of this toy. When we were peskly little kids, our mother used to bring me and my sis to work as it was just a few kilometers away from where we live and during the times when she felt like it we tag along with her. While in the office I get to bug her boss, well, just like any kid. It’s a good thing though that her boss happens to be a relative and somehow bugging him isn’t much of a big thing and besides, he loves to show me how good he is with the then novel Rubik’s Cube – that time, he can do two colors.
My mother later on got to give us our own cube and I got hooked to it since then. Unfortunately, I can only do 1 color at a time. I never got close to 2 just like my uncle does. I’m so proud of him that I always brag, “My tito can do 2 colors!” I’d always tell my grade school classmates. Those whom I’ve seen complete all six (only on TV) were my idol and I consider them a either a hoax or not from this world.
Years passed and I fully forgot my fascination and frustration with this puzzle until the fad returned once again. At first I just shrug off the urge to buy thinking that I’ve passed that stage already and have surrendered it to be solved by the young geeks. It seems though that my attraction to it cannot be denied. More people seem to have mastered it and every time I see one, I secretly envied them. Enough is enough.
I eventually bought myself another cube and grabbed the opportunity to fill in the gaps during my one week vacation to learn it. I printed tips from colleagues, searched the web for more instructions and like one student trying to make up for bad grades, I spent extra time studying how it really works. Within 3 days, I got it at last! The next days I can do it without looking at the guide and I was timing how long it takes for me to complete it – I may not in the league of the speed cubers, but who cares? A 5-minute average is good for me.
Now I’m very thankful that I did not include acquiring this skill among the 100-things-to-do-before-I-die list or I could be counting down just 99 more. Whew. I never really knew that the day will come, when I’d lift my head high and say, “Tito Joe, who?” Hahahaha.
Taken by my ever supportive wifey. State 2.
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