An Invitation to Dine

Another set of injections down and only have one more set remaining. So far, very good. Once again I was with the halt and the lame since the Doctors were running an hour and a half behind schedule. Got my injections and refills for my pain pills and anti-inflamatories. Once again, youngest in the waiting room and I think if anyone had challenged me to a race down the hall, this would be one race I could win.

I called Jason to let him know I was stopping for lunch before coming back to the office. I was feeling a bit lightheaded and woozy. So, I decided to grab a bite at Sweet Tomatoes. It was after the lunch rush, so once again I found myself being the youngest person in the room Or maybe it was early dinner for most of the diners. ST began serving their lemon zest summer salad today and it is one of my favorites. Got my lunch and made my way to an empty booth. Set my tray down so that I could get some soup and muffins. I came back to the booth, got my meal arranged and I began to eat. Just about into my third bite of salad this man comes to my booth and says, "A lovely lady like you doesn't have to eat by herself." Of course I had already paid for my lunch, so it wasn't like the guy was going to treat or anything. Now you have to know before I go on with this story, the guy was a dufus. He had on ugly dingy cargo shorts and some huge ugly black t-shirt. He hadn't shaved in a couple of days and his beard growth isn't sexy beard growth, he just had that disheveled look. Now that I think about it, shaved probably wouldn't have been much a better look. I was nice but responded, "I don't have to eat by myself, I want to." He left and went toward the pasta. Meanwhile I realized that I had set on the wrong side of the booth. With my knees the way they are, sitting so my right arm bears the load is much better when I get out of a booth, so I changed sides of the booth and went on about my lunch. The man comes back down the aisle and heads to the booth of which I am now facing. He is sitting there with an older man. It occurs to me as dufus man begins talking that my move to the other side of the booth may look like I was faining interest and maybe playing hard to get. I never looked up from my food while he began his conversation with his friend. It was loud conversation all about boats and marinas and living on a big boat and trying to find a "gal" who would love to spend her retirement years sailing around the Gulf of Mexico. I never looked up. Besides, the guy was too cheap for me. He had it all figured out how to conserve his Social Security and his money from the VA. He just needed a little help to buy a boat and have it paid off by the time he retired in several years. It is then I should have volunteered, uh I work at a church and my salary is not sizable. Maybe I could get you a motorized boat for the bathtub...that's about it. When I finished lunch, I got up to leave and he said, we missed out by just that much having lunch with a lovely lady. I didn't comment, but I should have said, my husband doesn't let me eat lunch with other men. And yes, I had my wedding ring on.



Several years ago I was in a Christian book store and a guy began flirting with me. I was dressed in my tennis togs. As we talked about the Amplified Bible I was buying he said, maybe I could get your number and you can teach me to play tennis and then we can get dinner afterwards. Wow, I was flustered and flattered at the same time. I got all nervous and said...uh, my husband doesn't let me date. This man was nice and not a dufus and he was rather embarrassed, apologized profusely cause he had not seen a wedding ring. I had mine on, the strap of my back pack purse covered it.

No, this is not an April Fool's story. I think I must look friendly or something. I have received several invitations to join someone else eating alone. I rather like to eat alone and use the time to think or read. I figure others don't like eating alone or something. Who knows?