Blog Bahtera

ON PAPER …….

Indra Blanquita

How may hours are there in a day? Twenty-four.
On paper, it gives me enough
time to be a good translator and book editor,
to be a mother who nurtures her children, to be a wife who caters to her husband’s needs:
I edit while I am still invigorated by the fresh morning air,
I translate a mesmerizing novel at noon even when drowsiness steals over me,
I translate a scientific document that causes furrows in my forehead in the still of the night

How may days are there in a week? Seven.
On paper, it is more than enough time for me to be a good translator and book editor,
And still be of sound spirit and physique:
My Qur’an readings, my vigorous aerobics, my hearty swims, carried on
faithfully once or twice a week,
Not to mention, resting from the computer every one hour of work.

How many days are there in a month? Sometimes twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty or thirty-one.
On paper, it is ample time for me to be a good translator and book editor,
And to be an active member of the community, a good citizen, no less:
Arisan with the ladies in the neighborhood, volunteer work in non-profit foundations, and exchanging views with my children’s teachers.

How may months are there in a year? Twelve.
On paper, that is ample time for me to produce so much translations, so much editing work, and once in a while, even write my own book:
I set the pace, I predict my income.

Yet,
This Paper forgets to account for the swinging moods of a
free-lance worker, and the minutes lost each time we tune-in to each of our projects,
This paper does not account for the friends or neighbors who drop in or call to unburden themselves or ask advice on their children’s education, marriage, medications and health – which cannot be turned away in the name of personal commitments.

This Paper does not realize that playing Rummikub, billiard, table football with the family is so enthralling and distracting.
This Paper tends to discount a husband who falls ill, a complaining child, the gastritis that returns to disrupt my activities.
Has This Paper never heard the saying
“brimming with passion, but short of energy”?
Perhaps This Paper forgets that
translators are human-beings, too!

Disclaimer: This applies on my paper, but very possibly, it does not apply on all the papers out there..