Conversations and Coffee
Time sprints. The world moves forward – unmindful and uncaring. We all try to stall, to pause, to look at the sky and the stars, to sit down and chat a while. As we run the race and keep our heads above water, we welcome the opportunity to engage in simple and sincere conversations that are even better over coffee and cake.
There’s this song from the Pinoy Ako CD that I really like. I’m not sure if it’s a filler or if it ever became a hit back home. The song is Cinderella by Stagecrew. The song is pervasive in its simple truth: Paminsan-minsan lang tayong magkasama, di pa pwedeng magtagal. Habol ang oras nagmamadali, parang si Cinderella hinahabol ang hating-gabi. I am not sure why they chose the Disney princess as the second object in the simile but I guess it does paint the image of fun ending fast as the clock races to midnight.
The unfortunate truth of reunions, of sporadic get-togethers, of chance meetings, of gatherings of old friends is that it is fleeting and short-lived. It’s like the countdown immediately starts and hovers as Death hovers over the dying. The song describes a familiar friendship, possibly familiar to us all. What’s interesting is that at the onset of the get-together, the song writer questions the friend, if not the friendship, wondering if he’s still the person he once knew. Again, this doubt is very familiar. It besets someone who hasn’t been in touch or hasn’t been around for a while. This awkwardness permeates as the parties try and feel each other out, try to see if much has changed, to see if old memories can break the ice.
The chance to re-connect is always fun, always a welcome opportunity. It brings a sense of past, brings to life a page in the memoir. The discussions on shared memories, current endeavors and future ventures are always a treasure trove.
The world does not pause though. It does not care for reminiscence among old friends. The meal ends, the cake is reduced to crumbs, the coffee is down to the last sip. What’s important though is that the conversation occured and the connection, however brief, has been re-established.
