I now have way too much of alone-time in my hands. I have longed to be this, pined for my new now. But I suppose people are really social animals and I now more than ever miss the company of girlfriends—someone to talk to about make-up and clothes, to compliment my new pair of funky earrings and shiny magenta shoes.
It’s not that being connected via the Internet will not do—having IM is such a good thing for someone like me who works from home. A chance to LOL about a funny video or hilarious pic that a friend grabbed from some wayward place in the net. But nothing beats laughing with someone—the tinkling laughter fueling some more giggles, with someone ultimately shushing you to silence because you chuckled way too much. Miss that.
These days, I hahaha with friends via chat or Facebook. R and I clock in a combined average of 80 hours per week on the net, which if you can divide really fast is equal to roughly three, four days. An awful lot of time, enough hours to work on other projects and more creative pursuits.
But I suppose it’s our way of connecting with friends—a simple push of a button on our laptops and a few clicks, takes us to a wonderful, connected world of being in touch, sans touching, with friends. Need to find out what others are up to? Go to the Facebook home page, check notifications, and open inbox. Each morning, going through this routine stimulates our brain cells awake—a smile slowly creeping on our morning-breath lips because somewhere around the Metro or around the globe, a friend has hit an all-meaning, way-to-go thumbs up Like sign. An affirmation that there is another soul—albeit not here, with us—who believes, sympathizes, and agrees.
I now have so much time I can afford to waste time. Hah! I even have time to count how many of my Messenger friend talked with me during the day. I mean, an exciting day can be defined as one when all of them send me a note and, a really swell day is when half of them engage me in “real IM conversation.” Those times are noted in my journal: Talked with … for 3 Hours, or IM with…! Really, that’s how I’ve been marking my days lately.
I don’t know whether this new reality should make me happy or sad. I just know there’s nothing that makes me happier during the day than to get a buzz on my Messenger—usually from my good friend Bridge who is in Singapore. Then my fingers fly with how are you, what’s for lunch, hahaha, dba, omg, mwah, and yey! Eyes trained as the word … is typing a message appears on screen and a resounding LOL confirms you still have the wit to make a friend laugh, well, soundlessly.
A few words thrown out into cyberspace to temporarily take place of real laughter, warm hugs, and sloppy kisses. Till you get the real thing. Till you see each other next and real laughter and tears and whatnots ensue. Till she actually sees my by then already old but still funky earrings and my already grimy magenta shoes.
Yes, for now, as the farmer in Babe had said: “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.”
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Pictured: WordPress screen from my old work table
Finally Dee 