I attended Happy Hour last night – “We got the Band Back Together” – and the venue? Korean BBQ. [N: again] loll
“Conner!? Didn’t You just have KBBQ like, a minute ago??” Yes, DR, but that was the Group choice. Me? I don’t really care what the location, the food, etc. etc. ends up being, because My Priority – particularly with this specific collection of Human Beings – is to Connect with Them. So… choices.
These are not fresh-outta-the-box relationships, here. We have all – Kha, Vee, and Airyn – been acquainted with AKA “have known Each Other” for almost two decades now, having first met at work. [N: We were all on the same work team at the time] And the rest? Is History. [N: Vee started out with the name ‘Guadalupe’ but “wasn’t feeling it”… so now She goes by ‘Vee’ – which We all oblige, because We All Love Her]
It’s not *snaps fingers* easy to Prioritize Happy Hours – is that counter-intuitive? loll – I mean, Everybody has Their various family configurations – Kids, Wives, Husbands, Significant Others/Partners, Aged Parents, etc. etc. – but today’s technology [N: group chat in Messenger] makes it easier to get on Each Other’s radar. HH is also useful to get Me out of My Sanctuary, so TECH jumps at this opportunity for more than just one reason.
Kha told Us a Story that I immediately – upon hearing it – announced, “Imma write a Story about this!”
And here it is, DR, for Your viewing pleasure.
Kha: “I heard one time on the radio…” [N: or was it a podcast?? Nevermind – those details aren’t important]
“This Lady – a Vegan – was talking about how She eats meat.” [N: the Lady in question was self-labeling, Herself, as a Vegan. this applying a commonly-understood term to Oneself is permissible FYI]
*mental grenade explodes*
Which – as any Great Storyteller knows – is the desired effect. Starting with data that is variant to the Listener’s current understanding of something is a surefire way to “hook” Them in. It’s how to get any Other Person’s air-quotes ‘undivided attention.’ [N: and from that moment on? I am shooting fish in a barrel loll]
Kha continues.
“So the Lady – who is Vegan because She doesn’t wanna kill Animals – says that She will ‘eat meat that’s leftover because 1) She doesn’t wanna waste food, and 2) the Animal has already given it’s Life…”
This part resonated strongly for Me, because in My SB? I would rather – literally – die than waste food. Ever.
Kha finished the thought: “… and so She wanted to honor the Animal’s sacrifice.”
Me, Airyn & Vee sit in silence for a moment, pondering this newly acquired data.
The rest of what happened here? We all took turns sharing Our Own unique perspective on this Lady & Her personal reveal about being a Vegan & eating meat, at the same time. [N: isn’t this a sign that You are super smart? That You can hold two opposing thoughts in Your Own SB at the same time? hmm] It was a lively discussion – lots of laughing & quirkiness & boisterous antics [N: okay okay, I admit: PASSION is the Main Character with this behavior] – but that was how the entire evening went… and Why I look forward to HH with such excitement & anticipate. Like… foreplay, I suppose.
When We first had Our group Meet Cute all those years ago? Kha was the Supervisor & the rest of Us were the Kittens. [N: underlings, direct reports, pee-ons, whatev] In Current Day? Now Airyn is the Boss, Vee has a different Boss, and Kha & I work elsewhere. And yet, We maintain our Connection, through the distractions of Life, through Thick & Thing… My guess? Because Each of Us, in Our Own way, values this Connection to maintain it as a Priority.
In a World of celebrity break-ups or “We grew apart” BS? Our Band is still together. And playing some sweet music.
. . .
Conner’s Comments: And in case You are wondering, DR, Yes: some leftover meat made it home with Me, via My man purse. [N: man purse = the bag I carry My drugs in; drugs = insulin loll] And also Yes, I took out over half of My weekly grocery budget allotment for this one meal… but? Totally worth it. And I count it as the Exception to My usual “pay as little as possible for food” Rule, because We don’t get together for Happy Hour every weekend.
But that’s Me.
