Yesterday on my trip down from Asheville to Miami I did something I have never done before. I ate alone in a restaurant. Now... you might be thinking that this cannot be true, after all I did eat in a McDonald's the day before by myself... but the true difference is that yesterday I went to a restaurant where I knew I would have to have a server. I usually avoid situations like this at all costs. In fact whenever I am at the airport I never go into the restaurants... no I always go to McDonald's or Starbucks and get something to go, and go sit at the gate, trying to sink into obscurity. But yesterday the Cracker Barrel signs were calling my name, and I mean you can't pass through seven different Southern states in two days and not get a hankerin' for southern cuisine. So I decided I was going to be brave and attempt the unattempted. I was feeling good until I pulled into the parking lot... a pain shot through my stomach... can I actually do this?... Yes, I work up the courage to go inside. Everything was going fine, but the hostess definitely thought I was with the woman in front of me, and so she was in no rush to seat me. When she finally came over I was getting quite flustered and mutter quite hysterically that there was only one, yes just me, which she probably had figured out... oh well. She gives me a seat and the waiter comes over. He was very nice and didn't give me a hard time about eating by myself, although still it was awkward, just me and the waiter. As a waited for my chicken and dumplings and from the can green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy so perfect you know it has to come from a jar or a can, I noticed there was at least one other person eating alone... so, ok, that made me feel better. So after eating all my food and having three glasses of sweet tea (I just love the stuff) the waiter gives me my check, and says it was such a pleasure serving me today, and that he wishes me safe traveling. Well, how does he know I am traveling?... ok i guess that's obvious... by myself at a restaurant just yards from Interstate 95. Well good thing I was traveling, because if I wasn't I would have felt so ridiculous at that point. Moral of the story is... eating alone is fine while traveling, but don't expect me to go out to a restaurant in Miami any time soon by myself : )
Yesterday on my trip down from Asheville to Miami I did something I have never done before. I ate alone in a restaurant. Now... you might be thinking that this cannot be true, after all I did eat in a McDonald's the day before by myself... but the true difference is that yesterday I went to a restaurant where I knew I would have to have a server. I usually avoid situations like this at all costs. In fact whenever I am at the airport I never go into the restaurants... no I always go to McDonald's or Starbucks and get something to go, and go sit at the gate, trying to sink into obscurity. But yesterday the Cracker Barrel signs were calling my name, and I mean you can't pass through seven different Southern states in two days and not get a hankerin' for southern cuisine. So I decided I was going to be brave and attempt the unattempted. I was feeling good until I pulled into the parking lot... a pain shot through my stomach... can I actually do this?... Yes, I work up the courage to go inside. Everything was going fine, but the hostess definitely thought I was with the woman in front of me, and so she was in no rush to seat me. When she finally came over I was getting quite flustered and mutter quite hysterically that there was only one, yes just me, which she probably had figured out... oh well. She gives me a seat and the waiter comes over. He was very nice and didn't give me a hard time about eating by myself, although still it was awkward, just me and the waiter. As a waited for my chicken and dumplings and from the can green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy so perfect you know it has to come from a jar or a can, I noticed there was at least one other person eating alone... so, ok, that made me feel better. So after eating all my food and having three glasses of sweet tea (I just love the stuff) the waiter gives me my check, and says it was such a pleasure serving me today, and that he wishes me safe traveling. Well, how does he know I am traveling?... ok i guess that's obvious... by myself at a restaurant just yards from Interstate 95. Well good thing I was traveling, because if I wasn't I would have felt so ridiculous at that point. Moral of the story is... eating alone is fine while traveling, but don't expect me to go out to a restaurant in Miami any time soon by myself : )
Comments
I think im the first one to comment. Anyway, I thought this post was interesting. It is really depressing eating by your self at a restaurant. I have definitely eaten alone before, mostly on travel. I, as you discovered, don't mind it when Im traveling. I usually try to dress up, people think you are on business that way and it makes sense. Also if you are in a hurry at the airport they get out of your way. Anyway, I went to the bar by myself once and that was really depressing. Well if you are every really lonely just give me a call I can drive down real quick...in 4.5 hours. Well that will work with some foresight. Or we could each go to BW3, or some place with WiFi and have dinner via Skype ;). Glad to hear you made it back safely. Keep me updated on your condo.
Aaron Lubben