Treading the familiar grounds

Like a pilgrim that finally found its way out of the desert. Like an endangered specie that reunites with his natural habitat. Like a …..

Okay I am being a bit melodramatic but you get the idea. The sense of isolation I have endured the last five months in my old work area has finally ended.

Now, I hear the familiar sounds of people in other nearby work area. I hear the endless shuffle of footsteps on the new grayish blue carpet, the barely audible chatter of some guys a few meters away, the drone of the printer a few steps away, the slightly off-key humming of Matchbox 20’s Unwell coming from ... somewhere far left. At least now it is far left. Even in my new department, an off key Unwell hounds me. Hahaha. But, I am not complaining.

New carpet, new telephone units, new pedestals and uh yea new telephone numbers, I take in the scent of newness.

Ahh …Civilization. The all too familiar hustle of office life. I take in the air of familiar grounds. Now I feel like a part of this huge team. I smile as I look at the glass window. Awww. No ugly unfinished building. I am kinda missing the old man.. err building. I see the glass windows of the next building.

Suddenly a felt a wave of longing for my old place, the privacy it offered, the immediate view of Ayala Avenue… Dear me, I am such an extroverted introvert. Or an introverted extrovert. Whatever.

I see a hand waving in my direction. It is Julius, one of the QC Analysts. A coffee drinker. Even in my solitary confinement, my love for coffee didn’t escape him.

“Now I can only stand from my cubicle and say ‘Coffee break' ” he says.

I agree with a smile as I followed him and the rest of us coffee drinkers to the pantry for that much needed caffeine fix.