Yep, Just me.
Saturday evening, after running some errands, I popped into a place I’ve passed a thousand times for a quick dinner (and hello, sushi is always a go). It didn’t really hit me until I was leaving that I totally rocked a meal out on the town by myself (and I wasn’t even on my phone the whole time).
When it did hit me, an old Friends episode immediately came to mind:
Rachel: Oh, that’s right. (sits down) I wish I was one of those people who could eat in restaurants alone.
Monica: You should try it. It’s a really good thing to do.
Rachel:I just think I’d feel really self-conscious, y’know? Like I was on display or something.
Phoebe: Nah, I was on display once. Nothing like eating alone.
After a quick Internet search, turns out there’s quite a few articles and even books on the subject of eating alone (Bet you can guess the most popular title: Table for One, Please).
Rachel: I’d love to, but I have plans on Sunday.
Guy: Well, maybe some other time.
Rachel: Sure. Just give me call; I’m in the book.
Guy: Okay. Thanks a lot. See you. (leaves)
(Monica runs over to Rachel on the couch.)
Monica: What are you doing? He is cute and he’s a doctor.
Rachel: How do you know?
Monica: Honey, I eavesdrop because I care.
Rachel: Well, I have plans on Sunday.
Monica: With who?
Rachel: With me.
Monica: Oh god!
Rachel: What-what? You are the one who told me how important it is to spend time alone. I can’t just go out with that guy when I have plans by myself. Wouldn’t be fair to me.
Monica: So basically you’re saying you don’t want to cheat on yourself?
Rachel: Well, if you wanna make me sound crazy.
I don’t know that I’ll be making a habit of flying solo at a restaurant, but I definitely won’t be avoiding plans with other people just to get in that “me-time”.
[Scene: A Restaurant called Wicked Pete’s Brews. Rachel is dining by herself.]
Rachel: (in her head) I don’t know if this is working out. I think…I think I wanna see other people. (closes her eyes for a second) Wow. Didn’t see that one coming. It’s not that I don’t enjoy this. I do. I just wanna see what else is out there. (The guy that Rachel was talking to earlier in the coffee house walks in. Rachel sees him.) (Out loud) Hey Guy.
Guy: Hey.
Rachel: What are you doing here?
Guy: I work across the street.
Rachel:Oh, y’know what? It turns out I’m gonna be free Sunday.
Guy:Ahh, y’know? I wish you had called me. I just told them I’d work this weekend.
Rachel: Oh, okay. Well, maybe next weekend.
Guy: Definitely! I’ll see ya.
Rachel: Okay. (They both shake hands.)
Guy: (in his head) Yeah, you’ll be talking to me never, because you’re a freak who eats alone.
So the question is: Would you eat alone in a restaurant?
