Space to Reconnect

Being an introvert I am not good at investing time and energy into maintaining friendships. My partner performs the role of social secretary to perfection. A chance encounter in a pub provided the catalyst for us to organise a space where five people could come together and reconnect.

Preparation for such an event is usually marred by sore feet from spending hours in the kitchen. On this occasion, a simple menu of Caprese salad, Lasagne al forno, Tiramisu and a few bottles of Italian wine made this the smoothest running and easiest of dinner parties.

The resulting conversations around life, health issues, death, politics, religion and discrimination carried us into the wee hours of the morning.

In reminiscing we worked out that two of us had known each other for almost 30 years. I have carefully looked after the gift I received from them on my 21st birthday.

We have led separate lives with our paths crossing at various points in time. We agreed that our the perception of each other is a memory of them, it does not take into account people, places, illness and events that have impacted on them.

The outcome of the evening can be summed up in one of my partner’s favourite expressions “a quality moment”.