Imagine this if you will....a dim, smokey pub with posters and paintings of all the legends like Zeppelin, Floyd, Morrison, Marley and Hendrix.It's a hole in the wall kind of place. Somehow it manages to have a couple of floors. There aren't that many chairs or tables but that doesn't make a difference to you because you have this one particular table you always sit at. Its your table. In fact you've even made sure those who sit there when you're not around know it.Beyond all doubt. Maybe you've etched your name and a little message onto it. If not that then maybe verses from iconic songs. Perhaps you've taken the liberty to draw little cartoons. You know however that even if you couldn't have stamped your authority on it, that friendly old waiter will keep your spot open for you. If someone happens to be sitting there when you arrive, he will politely ask them to move to another table. You smile and say thanks every single time but both of you know there is just no other way it should be. Its your table.
You've lost track of the number of conversations you have had at this table. You've even lost track of the number of people you have had them with. You have had innumerable pitchers of nice, refreshing beers except for that one time you had lime juice or soda because you tried to go on sabbatical. You lasted exactly 21 minutes. Damn the juice...Its not the drink you should be slamming down onto the table when you're having a raging debate with someone on existentialism or the meaning of love. That aside, you have had some pretty arbitrary coversations too. Maybe about that time you had that horrendous haircut at the local barber shop or when you fell splat in front of someone who makes you feel like butterflies. Whatever the conversation, it doesn't matter. Its your table.
It could be a timeline you know. Of your life.This table has seen you evolve from the slightly confused, random teenager you were when you first came in to the person you are today. Whoever that may be. You've made a lot of decisions here. Where to go? What to do? What to study?Where to work?...You've had your heart broken at this table. That was tough. Maybe you cried or just took another sip of beer when the silence got too painful. But sure enough, you have had some good times here too. Maybe this was where you first met someone new. Maybe not a lover, maybe just a friend.The silence became comfortable. So you knew you were going to be okay. Its your table.
You've come and sat here to get away from it all and you've come here to be a part of everything. You've come to the table when you have nothing in particular to do and sooner or later, someone shows up. Even if they don't, all you have to do is make one call and before you know it....everyone is there. Tripping peacefully. Over time, the people may have changed. But the stories haven't. Pretty soon, you'll be able to smile in acknowledgement when anybody anywhere says anything because at this table you've heard it all before.Its your table.
If someone were to film an evening you've spent sitting at this table with people...what would they see? The cigarette smoking intellectual with an axe to grind...You cannot count the number of times the two of you have raged against the system...Who else?What about the eternal optimist? All those times you both looked to the future with some sense of hope.Even though you knew that things could get tough. Then there is the person who is the butt of all your jokes. You've had some beer-spilling, falling-off-the-chair laughter at his or her expense.But you've never felt bad because you know that he or she has had similar laughter at your expense too. Of course, there is someone who has just suffered a massive setback. Normally, you're good at pep talk but sometimes nothing you can say will help so you firmly plant a pitcher on the table and just listen. Its your table.
Its a strange thing you know. Life. You can't really expect anything.But should you ever want to sit down and have everything make sense.... if only for the moment, all you need is a good table.
