Ahead of time
Given our penchant for “Filipino time,” is tardiness more forgivable than being too punctual or worse being ahead of time?
No longer is traffic useful as an excuse for being late. It’s too trite. On the other hand, can fear of traffic and making too ample an allowance for its dilatory effect cause one to arrive too early for an appointment?
Given our penchant for “Filipino time,” is tardiness more forgivable than being too punctual or worse being ahead of time?
Showing up on the dot at the time indicated on the invitation is likely to land one in the company of caterers fixing tablecloths or a surprised host coming out of the bedroom in their boxer shorts. (Is the dinner for tonight?)
The early bird invites the same disconcerted stare accorded to a burglar that has managed to elude the guards. Those who take time seriously clash with the majority who carelessly take invitations that specify time as a form of an inside joke. Stated start times are like the appliance store’s recommended sticker prices which are there only to be routinely slashed for a 30% discount.
The early bird is punished. His compulsive punctuality is a social blight that requires him to affect an appearance of looking only mildly bored rather than stressed. While waiting for a late lunch companion, Mr. Punctuality is repeatedly approached by a waiter for his order, if only to justify depriving hovering guests outside (please wait to be seated) of a table occupied by someone staring at the entrance with the concentration of a retarded dog, willing the absent master to come and rescue him from humiliation. (Sir, here’s a basket of complimentary bread to occupy you.)
Looking at the watch and loudly clicking the tongue are uncontrollable tics. Such body language communicates to the curious table nearby that Mr. P actually has a purpose-driven life. He sends texts to the absent companion — I’m in the last chapter of Brothers Karamazov. Ordering soup, while waiting for the late mate, is a bad move. It concedes defeat and surrenders to the premise that Mr. P is really eating by himself as if waiting for an imaginary friend. Why else did he bring a thick book?
When finally the late mate shows up, she is not at all stressed. She may go through the motions of an apology — I had to finish watching the director’s cut of Lord of the Rings. If I leave it, I lose track of the characters’ names. This flimsy expected is expected to be accepted without a fuss, accompanied by an accusation — you’re always too early.
The early bird has to be rid of his socially unaccepted behavior. If everybody agrees to be late, why not simply join them, adopt the practice, and move the posted time by an hour, or if this seems to radical, maybe, 45 minutes. The solution is simplicity itself.
But… what if posted time is in fact the expected hour? What if there is already a budding social movement to extend the courtesy of punctuality in all appointments both business and social? Should the early bird not show solidarity with them?
Mr. Punctuality is incorrigible. He sets the alarm and wakes up ahead of the ring. He is restless when he has an appointment and knows he needs to work backwards and determine when he should get ready and figure out travel time to make it to a meeting on time, allowing for a an upended 10-wheeler truck blocking the traffic and dealing with a motorcycle dinging his side mirror.
Still, socially acceptable local laggards here manage to be punctual when traveling to other cultures, managing to get to their train schedules and showing up for the lobby pickup by the local tour guide.
Certain business appointments also require timeliness. The conference call that engages twenty people from all around the world to discuss financial results require synchronized punctuality.
One is occasionally rewarded by like-minded friends who show up at the agreed time. Sometimes, there are even more punctual freaks that arrive at the meeting place 15 minutes ahead of time. They can show some slack — you’re not late, my friend. I’m just a little early. Of course, next time, the merely punctual one will be ahead of time too.
As part of the list of characteristics for a utopian world, it will be latecomers who will be given the bewildered stare — do you have another meeting here?