Wine, Colleagues and a Fire

Work is a big part of our social lifes. Many social studies have told us that people without a job feel left out, some sort of loser, or at least acknowledge that some part of their life is missing. In the one year I've been working at a restaurant, I've never felt the need to socialize with my colleagues. They were all nice people to work with. All very kind and that opinion of them hasn't really changed.

However, tonight was one of those nights I didn't really feel the need to go home right away after work. There was no one waiting for me there and no one would be 'online' to talk to. So when one of my co-workers asked whether I'd go for a drink with the other colleagues I thought, 'what the heck, why not?!' And it turned out to be the best decision for tonight. Bottles of rosé and white wine were opened and some of the girls I work with were already quite tipsy (negative effect of alcohol on an empty stomach and a tired body). Which reasulted into giving the local McDonalds a run for their money. Everyone was simply attacking the horrid food - complaining every minute how gross the food was, but admitting that it tasted delicious cause they were so hungry.
Because we were no longer on duty, the questions asked were a lot more personal and everyone was laughing a hell of a lot harder when someone said something stupid (again, alcohol on an empty stomach) or if someone just felt the need to share a dream they'd had a couple of day ago (green hands, rings and a tiny small office with loads of paperwork). Because it was my first time to have a drink after work, with the rest of them, they all noticed it and I was, of course, a small target for interrogation. But happily for me, they started off with the wrong question and everyone else had stories to share, too, about their love life.

Tonight I've seen my co-workers in a different light, much more relaxed and that might lead to friendships. If not, I could most definitly say I had a lot of fun talking, laughing and enjoying the fire and beautiful sunset into the Noorderplassen with them. Socializing, we do it all the time and we cannot live without the companionship of others, telling us we are wanted and loved. Work is one big part of that.

Birdy bird

A magpie in a tree, probably overlooking her nest.

Sweet Little Flowers

The parks in Almere Haven are smaller and more chaotic, but very beautiful. The blossom in the trees mark the change in the weather. Finally some sunshine!

A Love Story

The sun was shining bright. Vincent brushed his hand over his forehead to wipe off the sweat, but his hand stopped halfway through. His eyes had caught the blistering glance of long blonde hair. He knew that blonde hair, like it was his own. Once it had been his to call 'mine', but no longer could he do that. Vincent couldn't believe what he was seeing.

She hadn't changed her mind, had she?

Last time he'd seen her, she had been flirting with a prick from town. She had made it obvious to Vincent that he was in the past and that he was no longer on her mind and she was telling him with her action that he had to move on, too. Not that he could do that, he loved her too much for moving on.

His eyes didn't betray him, though that was definitely what Vincent thought had happened to him. She was really walking on the sandy path that let to his small little vineyard.

Vincent straightened up, unsure what do to. Should he call out to her? Or just let her walk towards the house and not answer her at all, in other words, ignore her?

He couldn't do that. He already felt that peculiar feeling he always felt when he was near her. He had no words for them, but in his head he loosly discriped them as strong cables pulling him to her.

Once they had pulled her to him, too.

That was in the past. He shouldn't be thinking of that, it would only cause distraction and pain. Vincent looked at his one true love again. She hadn't changed much. She was a little older, there were some lines in her face, though they could've been caused by her desire to laugh and to talk. Vincent heard the sound of laugher in his head again, he hadn't forgotten it. She was holding an umbrella, to keep her face out of the sun, and her white-with-blue summer dress was the real incarnation of freedom, joy and love. It fitted her perfectly. Vincent knew that the deep blue eyes would match perfectly with the dress. His eyes darted to her feet and he saw that she was wearing the most impractical shoes for a farmer country.

The shoes also explained why she was walking so slowly and carefully. The tall heels were thin. She had her face bent to the ground, to watch where she was going.

Suddenly she looked up and stared right into his eyes. It felt like he was hit by lightening. His entire frame was on fire. He didn't care that she had told him goodbye, he didn't think about his dirty hands that had been working on the field all day, all he knew and all he saw was her.

*

I think this is a nice beginning for a short story, don't you agree? No, it isn't perfect yet, but it will get better in time.

Welcome into the light

Somewhere in Germany there is this forest that allows us, simple not-dead-yet human beings to see the light.