La Recocha

Orders, shipping, receiving, audit, report, phone calls, employees, the stress!

Debris, load, unload, heavy equipment, bricks, the dirt, the fatigue!

Dishes, orders, customers, drinks, food, calculation, good grief!

This may sound familiar as it is the life of a blue-collar employee, sometimes a little bit light blue once you make it to management. For most of us there is not enough money left over for a fancy spa, a nice getaway, Pilates, yoga classes. Perhaps better budgeting would help, however, it’s kind of funny because it’s not in our lifestyle. Imagine a burly, rugged dude wearing tights doing the Puppy Dog Stretch. But that’s the beauty of freedom, you should do what ever makes you feel good as long as you’re not harming anyone. For example, I’m here, writing, after doing some heavy lifting (non-gym related). My hand shakes from the lifting or maybe because I drank too much last night.

So in comes La Recocha. It’s a Spanish term, mainly used in Colombia. Urban Dictionary defines it has “Un relajo, un desorden.” It’s exactly that, to relax, create a little disorder all in the name of fun. Add soccer and you have the perfect self-prescribed medicine that our ancestors would have recommended. It treats obesity, stress, anxiety, boredom, depression, loneliness, and even the calamity brought by Covid.

It’s not embroidery, knitting, craft but it still has the desired effect as we navigate in these uncertain times when life throws you a fast ball, a slider, a curve ball when you just arrived into the United States and you don’t even know the game. It’s actually a neat cocktail, here’s how it is served:

After a long day of hardcore laboring, the stress from talking to clients, being scolded by a project manager, or after a day of heavy lifting like a mule, or getting sauces on your clothes and sometimes even the face, you start by entering the park.

You salute people if you want but is best to for camaraderie. To prevent injury you stretch or to alleviate muscle tension if you work in construction. Perhaps you might have a beer pre-game to ease the mind and to transition from the work mindset to relaxation mode. Just one though. Two is too much. Three and you can injure yourself or another.

Then the game starts. The players start to jog around keeping their eyes on the ball and before you know it it’s ninety degrees outside and people are running around, shouting, and whatever a customer said, or your manager did, or if you accidentally bumped your head while bending over to pick up a salt shaker, all that anger and frustration is curled up in a ball and the players feeling a rush of endorphins see to it that with all force that ball enters the net.

It’s summer so the t-shirt is covered in sweat by now. Off with it, let the sunlight glisten your rock hard body. Let the rays tan your natural brown. And look here comes the lady who sells refreshments, “vendame una agua y Gatorade bien fria porfavor.” Thank you, nothing like quenching your thirst in this scorching weather. You can just feel the cold water cool the organs as it makes its way down your throat to the rest of your body.

But it’s not complete. After the game we feel like after a shower when all dirt gathered throughout the day is cleaned off. The memory of the day is still there, however. So adding to the cocktail is a little bit of nature’s remedy to depression: Cannabis. And for a final touch an unnatural man-made stimulant/depressant: Alcohol.

People here have families, work, or are looking for work. Discipline is very important so after much exploitation but productive day of work, a great soccer match bringing in togetherness from all walks of life; be it religion, race, gender, appearances, etc., taking in this cocktail is just sublime. You feel refreshed, calmer, saner, cleaner inside and out. If you add a little bit of music you reach a beautiful zen of connection with your fellow beings, a desire for the possibilities that life may bring.

Of course this must be done in balance, knowing yourself and your reaction. Like with embroidery you could prick yourself with a needle, you can sprain your knee while doing yoga, and so similarly this little cocktail mentioned could result in loss of coordination and/or hazy memory.

The great feeling if done correctly by a mature individual with self-control leads not only to personal satisfaction but also radiates to the significant other waiting at home. It also increases tolerance level to your kids, your pet and friends. You sleep better and wake up motivated enough to tackle another day.