I just sat down to eat at Burnham's Burgers for my lunch today. I was alone but quite happy to watch YouTube as I ate my egg mushroom burger. As I am munching on my food, I see someone I know who is alone as well. We have known each other a long time. We exchanged pleasantries and he sat down away from me with his back turned. When I finished I said goodbye and he said goodbye and that was it.
I reflected as I walked away, shuffling with fake confidence on my still improving right knee. What was I to that person? What was that person to myself? Friends? Friends would sit down and eat together. We would enquire into each other's lives. We would talk about minutiae, or deep thoughts. I felt no such compulsion to be at the same table in the same way he felt no desire to share with me his innermost secrets.
But we are not enemies. At least, I don't think we are. I know he is part of a group of people who regard me with emotions ranging from disdain to indifference. Bit he has always been cordial and polite. I have never heard of him saying a bad word to anyone, much less about me. He doesn't roll like that.
So what exactly are we to each other? Colleagues? The TESOL Community is now far too large to be friends just because you're both foreigners in a strange land trying to do an unappreciated job. Acquaintances? We have both been part of sports leagues and dramatic events. And yet, we never hung out.
We are Facebook friends, that number you can either choose to let define you or not. People you have known your whole life, or people you met at a bar last night are giving the same station. Yes, you can partition your friend groups in Facebook. No, I don't do that. Who has the time and the inclination to breakdown their association?
And yet. What am I to that guy? Probably nothing important. If I was, I reason, he would try to get to know me better. The fact he hasn't tells me he has no pressing desire or need. He has enough friends. Good for him.
If you asked a younger version if me if you could have a finite number of friends, he would have scrunched up his face and snuffed the suddenly confusing air. Too many friends, are you kidding me? Nowadays, I can say I have enough friends.
I am confident with my picks. I have multiple circles that are interwoven and autonomous. I have different interests represented. I have respect and love and joy and connection. I can lose touch without fear of losing friendship. I have colleagyes and Acquaintances as well. But really, I don't worry about being just another Facebook friend in the crowd.
I have enough friends.
