Dear reader,

Recently, while having a few drinks with a friend in a cozy pub, I noticed a newspaper clipping above a door with the words: ‘Leve het oeverloze praten’ (Long live endless talking). It reminded me of a spontaneous encounter with someone I struck up a conversation with in a cinema. That same evening, unaware of the passing time, we chatted uninterrupted for hours. In other words, a valuable conversation blossomed between two strangers.

On our next meeting, he took me to a musician's album release. Before the performance began, our conversation meandered effortlessly between light and heavy topics. Perhaps that's the best way to travel the world: listening to the stories and experiences of others. Shortly after, he encountered a meaningful quote in the restroom: ‘Soms denk ik dingen die ik niet zeg’ (Sometimes I think things I don't say). He asked if I ever felt the same.

“Of course!”

“Even now?”

“Maybe,” I replied. People often harbor unspoken thoughts, afraid of spoken words.

After the performance, it was pouring rain, and after a moment of hesitation, I stayed at his place. We were drenched in words, or rain, in a positive way. Since my brake had broken earlier in the evening, and he happened to be adept at fixing bikes, he brought my bike upstairs. A skill everyone should have.

In the morning, he eagerly fixed my brake. And yes, that was attractive. So there I was, wrapped in a blanket with coffee in hand, watching someone passionately install a new brake. In other words, it's our passions that make our days more colorful. He not only fixed my brake but also straightened out almost everything that was a bit crooked. To be honest, my bike looked quite messy and chaotic — a metaphor for my personality.

And now for the best part: he also added a cute red bike bell to my handlebars.

With love, Stefanie
Editor Hard//hoofd
Hard//hoofd Newsletter, April 9, 2023