I watched as both men entered together, sat down together, setup
their laptops together, nodded to each other and started
working
– separately.
I watched as both men entered together, sat down together, setup their laptops together, nodded to each other and started working – separately. It didn’t make sense to me. What’s the point of eating out with a friend if you’re just going to ignore them? Shouldn’t a meal with friends consist of good food, good conversation and pants with an expandable waistband?
Sometimes choosing a restaurant can be a hard decision that can strain any relationship. It can be a snap decision if all parties involved like the same food. Sometimes coupons help people reach a decision.
“Here, this coupon is good for one entree when another entree of equal or greater value is ordered.”
“Well, this coupon allows you to buy one desert and get one desert free, dine in only.”
“This coupon allows children 12 and under to eat free when accompanied by one paying adult.”
Besides coupons another factor that weighs in when choosing a restaurant is atmosphere. Do you prefer soft music, low lights and high prices? Or do you prefer loud music, bright lights and low prices? Do you want your food served to you or do you want to retrieve it when your number is called? The question is – quantity or quality? The bigger question is – at the end of the meal do you reach for a mint or an antacid?
Sometimes choosing an entree can be just as hard as choosing a restaurant. Also, I’ve come to learn that the reading of the menu can reveal more than you’ll ever want to know about your dinner companions as they conduct a personal conversation which ruins your appetite.
“What are you going to have?”
“I was thinking of starting off with the cream soup, then the steak and for dessert, cheesecake.”
“With your cholesterol, do you really think that’s a good idea? You should watch what you eat. You should order something else.”
“OK, I’ll have the bean soup and a chicken salad. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like I’ll be up all night on account of your bean soup. Think again. Plus, the last time you ate the chicken salad here you got sick, remember? Order something else.”
“OK, I’ll have water, one string bean, a rice cake for dessert and – oh, yes, I’ll need a doggie bag.
Deciding what to order isn’t as crucial a decision as where to sit. Heed my advice when I tell you it’s a mistake to sit side-by-side a sharer. Whatever you’re eating, she wants you to share it. She wants everybody to order something different so you can all share. If you don’t offer to share she will look at your plate, look at you and announce, “Yum, that looks good, you don’t mind if I try some,” as she scoops up a forkful of your dinner. Quite frankly, I do mind. Had I wanted you to eat off my plate, I would have invited you to dinner at my house.
As I watched her eat off my plate, I realized laptop men were right. Sometimes the only way to have a successful meal with people is to plop down in your seat, set up your computer, get to work and ignore them. Why put unnecessary strain on a relationship? It all makes sense now.
Cindy Argiento is a free-lance columnist who lives in North Carolina with her family. Her column appears weekly in the Gilroy Dispatch and Hollister Free Lance. She may be contacted at ca*******@*ol.com.
