There is a theory about the reason we forget stuff. It is called the consolidation theory. It states that because of experience, certain neural activities responsible for permanent memories are set into motion. Disruption of these activities leads to poorly formed memories, and thus, we forget.
Then a certain smell, sound, place or circumstance brings the memory back to the forefront and we are suddenly transported to the past. Like today when I was driving, lost in thought and all of a sudden I hear, “Where it began I can't begin to know it …but then I know it's going strong … was in the spring, and spring became a summer… Who'd have believed you'd come along. …Hands, touching hands … Reaching out, touching me, touching you…”
It’s Neil Diamond on the radio. Unexpectedly I am transformed back to the year 2000. I am walking the long pale yellow hall towards my office at the back of ATG. It is 4:30pm on a Friday and I quicken my pace – almost time to go home. I pass the smiling faces of the engineers who say hello as I pretend to not notice them watching my breasts as I walk by. The wireless group is next and they giggle hello in the middle of their ‘what are you doing tonight’ conversation. As I round the final corner to my office door a familiar sound begins to reverberate from beyond my view.
Eric has started Sweet Caroline in our office. You see, when you share an office with a MacGyver tech guy he can wire up a surround sound computer stereo that would make Madonna jealous. There is a live concert booming from my computer. I enter our office and he turns to me singing, "Warm touching warm, reachin' out, touching me, touching you, hands, touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you…” I start to laugh as the wireless group runs down the hall behind me pushing me all the way into our office. They begin a loud chorus, “Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good! I’ve been inclined, to believe there never would. Oh no no. Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good! I am inclined, to believe there never would. Oh no no.”
In that place we are all singing and dancing. It’s Karaoke without the booze. There is just something about this Neil Diamond song that makes you feel like Santa really does exist and good guys do finish first. Even the CEO, who often looked like he could kill you for breathing, laughs at our silly end-of-Friday ritual. Of course, we are clear across the building from him, which is half a block long. Eric arises from his chair, walks over and begins to dance with me. Our laughter echoes down the long corridor out through the cubicle floor. I never knew work could be so much fun.
Soon Tony peaks his head through the door, shakes his head, and laughs. He is our very own Antonio Banderas. He stands watching us in his perfect Italian suit with his perfect Latin hair. He winks at me with his beautiful turquoise colored eyes. Eric gives me the “I know you think he is a nice guy, but please stay away from him” look as Tony enters the office approaching me. Cracklin Rose begins to play. The group is singing louder now and Tony moves closer. He is now in my personal spaceand blocking Eric. I don’t think a man should be this beautiful. “Red, what dar you doin tonight?” he practically whispers. In my head he is asking, “Lovely red, will you fly away with me to the Kasbah?” Luckily motherhood and a boy who needs to be picked up from day care saves me from temptation. He responds, “Too baad … maybe another time?” Eric gives me the YOU KNOW HE IS A SENIOR EXECUTIVE look.
Yeah, but Tony could melt all the food in the frozen food isle with just his smile.
I am jolted back to the present with the loud honking of a car horn, as my light has turned green. Sweet Caroline is over. God, I miss them. I miss riding in the corporate jet so mad at Tony that I hold up a newspaper to block his face. With him calmly charming everyone else while making small comments about the articles on the back page of my paper. He was so hard to resist. Eric was forever trying to block any interaction between Latin man and myself. I’ll never forget the time I told Tony he smokes cheap cigars. He looked at me, laughed and generously offered to bring his cigar box to my hotel room for a closer inspection. Just when a girl thinks she has heard everything…
Back at the office my x husband greets me. There are no Tonys or Erics there. I have a second email from the COO of the company that interviewed me on Halloween. He is wondering if I got the application … his email is tentative. I am guessing he doesn’t like his other applicants. I think about all the jobs I have had and what they meant to my life. I decide to take a big risk and tell him I am not interested in the position. It was one of the most freeing experiences I’ve done since I went skinny dipping at …
I am considering other options.
I just wish they included Eric, Neil Diamond and some tall sexy man following me around wanting to know what I am doing this evening.
Until next time-
Chttp://journals.aol.com/rapieress/Aweekinthelife/
