The 11.5th floor was the smoking area on the back stairs at OpenCraft.
Last year around this time, I used to get there with a hand rolled smoke, a jacket and my ipod. I either played one song on repeat one while I let my thoughts flow or listened to 2 design podcasts. I knew it took me 12 minutes to finish my cigarette, because the podcast was 6 minutes.
The place had an incredible view on Nadi El Seid, a big sporting club in Cairo, I could see the football field and the kids playing. I wondered many times how would a fall from this height feel. I had all those dreams and projects. Freelancing and life organizing plans, CSS hacks, Design issues, front pages solutions, tricks to solve bugs in Diwan's layout.. it all passed through my head in those moments.
I left OC on Dec 31st 2008, yes the economic crisis got me then! I never wrote about it back then, I tried to move on and I kept visiting my friends there and kept smoking on the 11.5th floor. This post was supposed to be written on the day I had the last smoke at OC, the last day of september when OpenCraft closed its doors :(
I had amazing memories and friends there, that place was like a school to everyone, I became a drupal themer there, I learned how to investigate my computer problems and I found other geeks. I even took my guitar lessons there!
Today as I listened to the song I used to play on the 11.5th floor, I wanted to share my nostalgia.
So long and thank you for all the fish!!
