LIfe of the Party
October 10, 2009
I attended my little boss’ birthday bash the other night and I think 80% of our group’s population were present. It was a kind of party where people just go to mingle and talk about anything and everything just for fun. Some were interesting some were not.
In our workplace, we seldom have a chance to really talk and have fun. Last night was one of the few times that we were together doing nothing except eat, talk, laugh and enjoy our time. Maybe my natural warmth put them at ease to open up and share what they think or their unforgettable experiences,
In between meals, I found myself having a nonsense conversion with this colleague who is 12 years my senior, 3x whiter and 2x lighter than me (ouch!!). Anyways, she shared this unforgettable experience some years back when she was still struggling to find a job. It was 1:30pm, she was in Magallanes Makati that time, just finished an interview with one of the company along the CBD. She was about to ride a bus going to Fairview, she is residing in Fairview, when she realized that her money was not enough for the fare even an ordinary bus. She decided to walk her way from Magallanes up to Kamuning using the side streets. I asked her why did she call anybody she knows near the area to help her or text anybody (unfortunately, mobile is out of the question that time). She claimed she never thought about it anymore. After 1 and half hour, she was in Fairview and luckily the money left in her possession was enough for the ride in the jeep to her place. She told me that after arriving in Kamuning, she felt like fainting. After she told me her experience, we just laugh it off.
After eating, somebody gave me a drink. Maybe that person already had a drink, that was why it was easy for him to talk about himself. He told me a story of himself, just one breadwinner scattered around the planet, trying to earn a living for the people they love, and provide a better future for their family. A 27 year old guy trying to earn a living for his 9 siblings, him being the eldest and the youngest is just 11 years old. His father passed away when he was in his teens. His mother found another man and left them so he is taking care of all his 8 siblings, 1 already married, 2 other siblings also working and it left them 6 siblings to support but he said they can only support the study of 3 siblings. The remaining 3 are just taking care of the house. He was employed by our company 2 months ahead of me. He said he was thankful, I asked him why, because he was previously employed in styro packaging company which exploded a few months after he left. He is now happy with his present job. He claimed there is an added bonus with his job, he is being a silent witness for anything interesting, top secret and fishy that is happening in the workplace. Hhmmmnnn, maybe I will find another time to sit and talk again to that guy so that I will have something to put in my blog.
As the proverb says “pleasure shared is a pleasure multiplied”. People are not inclined to talk about the miseries of life when seated at the table full of happy table companions. Only the humurous subjects and funny anecdotes will be reviewed during such gatherings.
Too bad, I was among those who left early, I did not had a chance to mingle with other guests with interesting life stories to share. Parties like these are always memorable but make sure you don’t do anything you don’t want to hear the morning after.
