Copywriter meets web 2.0

Yesterday was the ode to Cupid, heart-shaped balloons, and over-priced notions of love: Valentine’s Day. Though a cynic, I decided to indulge in a few hours of delicious fare with my colleagues in Friendster restaurant. After waiting for an entire Ice Age to melt, the five of us finally got a table reserved for a Mr Ibrahim.

I can see it now…Mr Ibrahim going ‘Look at the jam, dear, is it really worth the trip out tonight?’ Mrs Ibrahim replying ‘Do you want to live to a ripe old age?’ Mr Ibrahim, thinking fast, ‘Yes, dear, but we’ve been in this jam for two hours. What if we stop by a McDonalds?’ SLAP and BOSH to Mr’s face and Mrs is getting out of the car and walking home; just twenty four metres away.

The hapless romantic that I am, I saw past the two minutes that became an hour waiting for all our food to arrive, the din, the bad jokes by a magician, the unavailability of certain dishes on the menu (half), the candle wax figures modeled by a bored friend, the presentation of dishes we didn’t order, the lack of air conditioning, and thought to myself: It’s Valentine’s Day. I like this place. (Or it could’ve been the couple of beers.)

Actually, Cupid did shoot an arrow into my aching, sweaty back that night. I felt the friendship of a few people who cared to hang out with me even though some of them had to return to the agency to finish up work. Love is overrated. Friendship is underrated.