I think work is the problem.
I’m credentialed to say this because I passed a pass/fail class called “The Philosophy of Work.” The course was required toward my undergraduate Honors Degree in Liberal Studies. For those of you thinking that an Honors Degree in Liberal Studies is useless, don’t worry, I have a BA English Literature too.
In class, we talked about what it means to have a job versus a career versus a vocation. We talked about the value of work in our culture. Hard work is respected and applauded. We are bootstrap pulling people. We even have a national holiday, where we don’t work, to celebrate all the other days when we do.
We talked about work and happiness. Is work a necessary evil or the path to fulfillment? Is it toil or enlightenment? Maybe both?
Does the type of work matter? Is the person who digs a ditch, using muscles and will to make things happen more or less fulfilled than the person who uses a computer to diagram the ditch and makes things happen while dressed in business casual attire?
Looking back on my school days, I didn’t have a clue about what real work meant and the philosophical discussions didn’t do a thing to prepare me. I thought I had it rough if I had a class on Friday. I thought housekeeping chores were a burden. I might have cut my arm off with a weed-whacker, if we’d had one, to avoid lawn maintenance.
I’ve been in the 9 – whenever working world for a while now. There are days when I look forward to getting to the office and know I make a difference. When I work with someone on my staff and see the light of understanding flip on in their iris, my chest swells. There are also work days when no amount of compensation seems worth it. And there are more workdays than I like to think about that end 13 hours after they begin.
Work helps me appreciate my leisure time. And, my leisure time makes it possible for me to do my work.
My friends; my funny, smart, interested and interesting friends are a big part of my leisure time.
And we are funny.
The funny grows with group size. Margaritas probably don’t hurt either. And we were funny on fire the night we celebrated the birthday of a good friend (and short list candidate for margagogo’s open slot for a Brooklyn Correspondent).
Sometimes when we are together, I laugh so hard my cheeks cramp and tears run down my face. When I get going, each peal of laughter rolls over the one before it, squeezing out the normal rhythm of my giggle until I sound like an asthmatic, wheezy bulldog. I wish I could come up with a more attractive description than cramped cheeks, tears and wheezing. But in these moments, when I’m surrounded by friends and laughter, I know I’m exactly where I belong.
My friend’s birthday celebration at Bamonte’s in Williamsburg (32 Withers St) was the scene of one of these perfect moments.
Bamonte’s is old school Italian. The lights are a little too bright, fixtures ornate, walls red and the staff supports every old school stereotype. My friends chose Bamonte’s for the celebration because their family has a relationship with the restaurant since way ‘back in the day’. You’ll feel the history when you walk in the door. It was the perfect setting to explain hashtags to friends who don’t and won’t ever tweet and it made total sense when “hashtag” became “hound dog”. Thanks to this night, I will forever be “hound-doging” #hounddogisthenewhashtag #funnyonfire
You should go to Bamonte’s and get a double order of the Eggplant Rollatini – it is insane. Everyone had a great meal and unless you’re really, really hungry, you’ll have left overs to take home. I had spaghetti and meatballs (amazing) and my laughter turned to real tears the next day when I realized I wasn’t getting the lunch I was drooling for because my to-go never made it to my refrigerator and instead spent the night in my purse. #bummer #cryingagain
Food Styling by the Birthday Boy.
Grab a group of friends and head to Bamonte’s. You should, under no circumstances, order a margarita. But if you stick with wine and anything else on menu, I know you’ll have a great meal and I hope you have half the fun that we had. #funnyonfire #happybirthday #Ineedahounddogsymbol
margagogo 