The sushi feast in front of me looks like unabashed gluttony to would-be onlookers, but I know it’s much-needed nourishment. The chef here treats avocado and sweet potato rolls with about as much meticulousness, mastery, artistry, and genius as I do my code, and I come here weekly because of this.
I’ve been in the mobile development lab for hours, emerging from my warm cocoon of solitude for some fresh air, and even fresher food. The miso soup is to die for, and makes life worth living. Home-brewed green tea washes down nutrients into every last eukaryotic cell of my being.
Ahh. This is it.
The code tonight will reflect this perfection.
In my zone, the couple at the neighboring table admires both my solitary contentedness and the splendor that sits tabletop. The husband blurts out warmly in my direction for the entire establishment to behold, “THIS MAN HAS IT FIGURED OUT!”
I do.
His wife thinks he’s nuts for vocalizing this in such an expressive and intrusive manner and gives him a sideways sneer as if to say, “Honey, you’re crazy, but I love you anyway…Please leave this man alone.”
She looks at me and smiles, which essentially says the same thing that her man has already blurted out all over creation.
I give them both a friendly smile, and humbly thank them for reaching a fair consensus over my level of life mastery, and for complimenting me, unified in their own disparate ways.
The man continues, “THIS MAN FEASTS ALONE!” …The wife shakes her head, and somehow still loves him.
I chuckle, radiating happiness, peace, and light. I explain to them that I’m an introvert and that I come here often, for nourishment, reflection, and to think thoughts…thoughts just as brilliant as the mango roll that I’m about to savor.
“YOU DON’T SEEM LIKE AN INTROVERT!”
I smile in gratitude, with slight hint of irony, regarding that the only words I’ve spoken here are, well, nothing…except for the thanks I’ve already given them.
Award-Winning Chef Eizi Nakazima (Jackie)
“Hehe…I know. It’s weird. I get that often. Thank you.” I proceed to tell them that, while I do love people, I generally roam this Earth alone, and love it.
We talk back-and-forth for a bit as friendly strangers and collectively praise the chef for his excellence — the husband in his obvious public fashion, the wife in her loving embarrassment…and me, a little later, by leaving a 30% tip and giving him a silent bow of respect and gratitude as I left his establishment to get back to the lab.
The code tonight will be perfection.