i wanted to start this post with a flashback....but to be honest, i dont know when the flashback should begin....
and this is theme behind todays post (sort of)
I had met the carpenter years and years ago and our interactions were limited. i met him at the office, that i'm sure of (not after work drinks with colleagues nor through friends of friends) although I could not exactly remember how. i remember once when i had just met him, he told me his wife was filipina working in ifad and i promptly mentally switched him off. not interested in married, even if he was cute. i would barely see him when he was in the office and then he moved. face to face, i think i interacted with him just twice. and he's been out in asia, west africa and the carribean. up until last april last year, he wasn't around. and i just got back to work in february this year. i was surprised to find him walking around. it wasn't uncommon for field staff to come to hq for meetings or workshops, but i had a vague sensation that he was back. i dont have any photos of myself in the global directory and since he left we had the sporadic exchange of work email. other than that, i was sure he didn't remember me. how sure? well, he passed me once or twice since being back and barely nodded my way. well, i vaguely remembered him so i guess the recall was mutual. when it finally did register in my head that it was the carpenter, i sent him a message on skype.
hey, are you back? was going to say hi but wasn't sure if that was you
yes, i'm back after being in the field.
hq has a different pulse.
right, something to get used to. lets have coffee and catch up.
sure.
next day, he was in a meeting, so i left a message and we were chatting again,
aren't you supposed to be in a meeting, i dont want to disturb
ah well yes, i'm mostly listening at the moment
so day after, i said, hey, you want to get the coffee.
message ignored.
ugh.
so then the rest of life happened and i completely forgot about him.
last friday i was taking the stairs up to the 4th floor and he was coming down, now keep in mind, we both barely remember each other. so we passed by with the usual "hey" and im thinking in my head, yup he definitely doesnt remember who am. and then he stopped. and then he hugged me and kissed me twice - we need to catch up over coffee.
me: yeah sure. just say when.
him: i passed by your office but didn't find you.
me: that's strange i'm always there. where's your wife
him: (looks at his feet, face clouds) she's in france at the moment
*awkward* ok, in my head, sorry i brought that up!
me: yeah, well, lets see each other later.
around 3, i asked,
you busy
and he said, a little bit. i'm leaving tomorrow so i have lots of things to wrap up, deadlines and meetings, etc
i was supposed to go with wael for coffee but blew it off to catch up with the carpenter... grrrr
i said, well, you could have told me on the stairs. anyway, fine, we can catch up when you're back.
him: well, i can finish up here and pass by your office later for a proper hello
me: actually, i leave at 3.30 breastfeeding hours
him: breastfeeding????
we definitely need to catch up
me: yes, but not today
him: ok, i'm back april 9th lets have lunch that week
me: sure, let me know when. i know its a bit hectic
him: april 11, wednesday, ok?
me: ok, wow, sure.
him: sending you the invite now
sent the email invite
him: see you then
damn.
i wont lie, my ego is stoked. remember, i've had two kids in the past 4 years, no exercise and lots of carbs. even if its just him being nice and friendly, i'm surprised he even remembers what i look or who am. and that he was that quick to send an email. so yay to me and my 5 minutes of ego boosting.
and this is theme behind todays post (sort of)
I had met the carpenter years and years ago and our interactions were limited. i met him at the office, that i'm sure of (not after work drinks with colleagues nor through friends of friends) although I could not exactly remember how. i remember once when i had just met him, he told me his wife was filipina working in ifad and i promptly mentally switched him off. not interested in married, even if he was cute. i would barely see him when he was in the office and then he moved. face to face, i think i interacted with him just twice. and he's been out in asia, west africa and the carribean. up until last april last year, he wasn't around. and i just got back to work in february this year. i was surprised to find him walking around. it wasn't uncommon for field staff to come to hq for meetings or workshops, but i had a vague sensation that he was back. i dont have any photos of myself in the global directory and since he left we had the sporadic exchange of work email. other than that, i was sure he didn't remember me. how sure? well, he passed me once or twice since being back and barely nodded my way. well, i vaguely remembered him so i guess the recall was mutual. when it finally did register in my head that it was the carpenter, i sent him a message on skype.
hey, are you back? was going to say hi but wasn't sure if that was you
yes, i'm back after being in the field.
hq has a different pulse.
right, something to get used to. lets have coffee and catch up.
sure.
next day, he was in a meeting, so i left a message and we were chatting again,
aren't you supposed to be in a meeting, i dont want to disturb
ah well yes, i'm mostly listening at the moment
so day after, i said, hey, you want to get the coffee.
message ignored.
ugh.
so then the rest of life happened and i completely forgot about him.
last friday i was taking the stairs up to the 4th floor and he was coming down, now keep in mind, we both barely remember each other. so we passed by with the usual "hey" and im thinking in my head, yup he definitely doesnt remember who am. and then he stopped. and then he hugged me and kissed me twice - we need to catch up over coffee.
me: yeah sure. just say when.
him: i passed by your office but didn't find you.
me: that's strange i'm always there. where's your wife
him: (looks at his feet, face clouds) she's in france at the moment
*awkward* ok, in my head, sorry i brought that up!
me: yeah, well, lets see each other later.
around 3, i asked,
you busy
and he said, a little bit. i'm leaving tomorrow so i have lots of things to wrap up, deadlines and meetings, etc
i was supposed to go with wael for coffee but blew it off to catch up with the carpenter... grrrr
i said, well, you could have told me on the stairs. anyway, fine, we can catch up when you're back.
him: well, i can finish up here and pass by your office later for a proper hello
me: actually, i leave at 3.30 breastfeeding hours
him: breastfeeding????
we definitely need to catch up
me: yes, but not today
him: ok, i'm back april 9th lets have lunch that week
me: sure, let me know when. i know its a bit hectic
him: april 11, wednesday, ok?
me: ok, wow, sure.
him: sending you the invite now
sent the email invite
him: see you then
damn.
i wont lie, my ego is stoked. remember, i've had two kids in the past 4 years, no exercise and lots of carbs. even if its just him being nice and friendly, i'm surprised he even remembers what i look or who am. and that he was that quick to send an email. so yay to me and my 5 minutes of ego boosting.
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