The Address Is Correct. Finding the Entrance Is Another Matter.

“You have arrived.”

A confident announcement from a phone that has no intention of helping me with the remaining part.

I am outside the correct building.

Somewhere inside it, people are having a perfectly normal evening.

I would like to join them.

First, I need to discover which part of the architecture allows this.

The most convincing door is usually locked

There is a large entrance with excellent lighting.

Locked.

A smaller door looks promising, but appears to belong to somebody’s private home.

Around the corner, a discreet sign offers just enough information to suggest that other people have solved this before.

I admire a discreet entrance once I am inside.

Outside, in the rain, I become more interested in arrows.

Then comes the message.

“Where are you?”

A difficult question.

Geographically, I am doing very well.

Socially, I have yet to begin.

The glass introduces another complication

Sometimes I can see the people I am meeting.

This should make the situation easier.

Instead, I am now waving through a window while trying to communicate that I understand the concept of a door and would appreciate knowing where they keep theirs.

Someone waves back.

Lovely.

Nobody gets up.

They think I am saying hello.

I am requesting access.

There is an important distinction.

Push and pull deserve better publicity

Eventually, I find the entrance.

Now the door needs a decision.

Push or pull?

I choose with the assurance of a person who has learnt absolutely nothing from previous experience.

The door remains still.

For one brief moment, I consider whether the establishment has closed.

Then somebody approaches from inside and opens it using the other direction.

Of course.

I make the small expression people make when they would like a door incident to remain confidential.

And then the evening begins

Within a few minutes, I have put down my bag, said hello and started enjoying myself.

The entrance becomes part of the story.

Somebody says they had exactly the same problem.

This is comforting, although I would have preferred their company during the investigation.

Soon, the conversation moves on.

We are settled. We have drinks. Everybody is here.

The waiter approaches.

At least this next part should be straightforward.

Although being ready to order has never guaranteed that anybody will actually order.

Silvia