Table for One

I have a new 12:30ish-1:00 o’clock tradition, its called Loner Lunch. Yes, correct, as in I order AND eat lunch all by myself. Do I not have any friends in the office you may ask? I do, hello Betica you know I still love you! So why would I do such an atrocious thing? Well, because for starters the lunch partner that I once had (not you Betica, the one that works a few buildings away, Banco Santander building to be exact!) continuously managed to ruin my precious lunchtime one way or another, either by a smart unwarranted remark or by cussing off the poor homeless man crossing the street or some other form of ‘rudeness. Now, I know what you all are thinking, are you sure Melina, that you are not the one that’s rude first. And here’s what I have to say to that in my best Stephanie Tanner voice: “HOW RUDE”!

But either way, whether I’m rude, your rude, he’s rude, we’re all rude…I have learned one thing…I actually enjoy eating lunch by myself. Its refreshing when you come to terms with the fact that you can eat lunch/dinner alone. I know it sounds scary, but you have to face the fear head on! I remember eating in my car when I was friendless and working at Foot Locker one summer. I mean, why risk eating alone and looking like a loser with no friends? Exactly. I think we are all too caught up on what others will think if we dare brave the Food Court/Restaurant/Cafe solo.

But not no mo’.I have looked fear straight in the eye and said “Hello, yes, its just me, table for one” and not felt the least bit awkward in doing this. Ok, maybe just a leeetle akward for a split second, when the waiter tilts his head and looks at you in pity, but it all goes away once you sit down and realize you could just eat in peace….ok I lied again, maybe its not completely 100% peaceful because it never seems to be for me, the voices in my head are often too loud to quiet down or too funny to not laugh at. But even with those voices it still feels pretty darn good to just sit down and enjoy your own company. We live in a city that doesn’t seem to work well alone. But take New York for example (IWillLiveThereOneDayDammit), everyone eats alone, walks alone, strolls alone, goes to the movies alone, dances alone, lays out alone, does everything alone. It’s one of the world’s most crowded, yet loneliest cities, except loneliness does not have the same negative connotation as it does here in Miami. It’s just a bunch of loners doing what they gotta, wanna do and do not care if others tag along. What a genius concept!



Disclaimer: if you did not let Frank Sinatra’s-New York load and play while reading, I don’t like you. Even you, Caroline Kristin Lamarre.