Have you ever eaten at a restaurant and noticed a person sitting by themselves at a table for one?
You cannot help but hope someone is coming to meet him or her. I was that person at one time in my life and never want to experience it again. I will cook a gourmet meal for myself at home - candle, flowers, a tablecloth and all - before I do that again.
According to sources, single table reservations have risen in popularity within the past two years. I recently ate at a restaurant in North Carolina and noticed a man eating by himself. Whenever I notice someone eating alone, I always feel the urge to say something.
“Hey, lonely person eating all alone, please don’t be lonely anymore and come join my happy crew.”
Then I remind myself that eating alone does not always mean one is lonely. I have an acquaintance who enjoys dining out alone. When I asked her a question referring to the subject, she answered with an exhilarating response.
“That last hors d’oeuvres - always mine,” she said.
Halfway through my meal, I noticed a lady laughing while thrusting her head back in an attempt to seek attention. She caught the attention of a number of people that evening. Apparently, I had just entered the restaurant during her quiet spell because she entertained that restaurant for the rest of the evening.
She was “that guy,” the person nobody wants to be. Everybody has a story. I often wonder what hers was.
When I was younger and traveled with my father a lot from stateside to England to the Virgin Islands on business, we often sat in terminals waiting for a connection flight, that’s when I discovered the term “everyone has a story.” My father and I would make up stories about people we noticed traveling in the airport alone as a fun way of passing time.
We would scope out a man traveling alone and find a lone woman traveler to pair him up with. We would study their facial expressions and physique, then make up a story about why they weren’t sitting together.
Those times proved to be a fun and hilarious way to pass the time while waiting for our plane. There was never a time that we didn’t notice a “that guy.”
At some time or another, I think we have all been “that guy” without realizing. Having said that, there is - knowing that you’re being him and not caring and accidentally being him. Like standing in line at a fast food restaurant talking or daydreaming and waiting til you get to the front of the line to decide what you want!
Sharon J. Hall is editor of the Manning Times.
