a romantic table for 1

so i thought - "what the hey! it's friday." i'll rescue myself from my pathetic lunch consisting of a granola bar and a bottled water and mosey over to the deli. i'll buy a salad! naturally, it was a "create-your-own" sort of deal, so my concoction was truly made just for me. as i sat in the deli and chomped on my mean greens, i thought... "hmm, this is kind of different... eating by myself." for me, eating out is a social thing. i like the idea of gathering up my favorite gal pals, selecting a restaurant to match my mood, and devouring some fine faire among friends... however, i've become accustomed to eating out alone. it's not bad or good - simply different. i'm able to contemplate a variety of things and i'm never caught chewing with my mouth open. 

after tapering down to the bottom of the bowl, i glanced around to see several parties made up of a single guest. surely, many of those around me were also on their lunch breaks, taking time for a quick bite. but do they share my perspective on dining alone? might they prefer a crowd of friends to keep them company, or do they enjoy flying solo? whatever the case might be, it appears as though my nyc neighbors dig themselves some alone time. however, i've come to realize, this is hardly atypical behavior for big city living. 

so then, i can admit - more often than not, i'm by myself, much like the locals. outside of being in class or at work, i go just about everywhere by my lonesome - meals, movies, shopping (excluding dates with friends, obviously). and, this is a-ok. it's been a very foreign, yet liberating, experience - an independence project of sorts. 

perhaps, after the semester is over, i might do something really crazy... like take a day trip outside the city... to explore... all by myself...