Eating Alone

Eating alone is not for the faint of heart.  Someone told me that once and I wish I could remember who it was.  Perhaps it was someone I waited on at work.

Regardless, I ate alone today.

Today is my long day.  My first class starts at 8am.  My last class ends at 9pm.  You read that correctly.  On Mondays I am at school for thirteen hours and in class for nine of them.

I have to get up at 6am, and my mind does not like to function before about 10am, so I am not the most efficient person in the mornings.  Regardless of good intentions or amounts of planning, I have yet to be a responsible and productive student / eater and bring a lunch with me.  As I am still becoming familiar with the campus and I have been repeatedly warned to stay away from the food in the Shaw Center, this usually leaves me using spare change in the vending machines.

So today I took myself out for lunch.

Yes, the Olive Garden is right down the road, but I opted for something a little less time consuming and extravagant.  I found the nearest Arby's.  I went inside.  I ordered a French Dip Sandwich, which was probably the most amazing sandwich I've had in my entire life (because that's how hungry I was).  And I sat, by myself, and ate.

This is a treat for a couple reasons.  Firstly, I'm not having to wolf down my food in the car.  I'm sitting at a table, I have a napkin on my lap, and I'm eating like a civilized human being.  Secondly, I'm not doing homework.  It's a mental vacation!  Thirdly, the Arby's is right across the street from a park, which makes for some very entertaining people watching, one of my favorite things.

So eating alone may not be for the faint of heart.  I imagine in an Olive Garden type of setting, it's a little bit more obvious, which in turn is probably a bit more difficult.  But sometimes, eating alone can be good for the heart as well.