September 8, 2023 Friday Night, Date Night
It happened again.
I walk into a restaurant. Alone. Because why the fuck shouldn’t I?
The host asks, “Just one?”
I grit my teeth and squeeze out a “yes”.
After I’m seated, the server walks up to my table.
“Are you alone?” she asks.
I look at her square on and through clenched teeth, I ask, “Why do you have to ask like that?”
“Oh, well, I’m single. I go into restaurants by myself,” she backpedals.
“Then you know how rude it is when people speak to you like that!”
I thought about getting up and leaving. I really did. But it wouldn’t change anything. The world caters to couples.
I sat, fuming, waiting for my margarita. I wondered why I get so pissed when it happens. Probably because it fucking happens ALL THE FUCKING TIME. Even single people do it to single people.
Do I not like being alone? Well, Friday night is Date Night. So no, I don’t like being alone on a Friday night. Usually, it’s OK. I don’t usually think about it much. I’m single. I do stuff alone. That’s my normal. But on Friday night, I don’t relish being alone. Not on Friday nights…
So — all you folks in the service industry — here’s how I like to be treated.
When I walk up to be seated, simply ask, “How many?”
I will smile wide and answer, “One.” I will smile wide because I’m being treated with dignity and respect regardless of the fact I am dining as one.
When you walk up to my table, don’t assume I’m waiting for someone. BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU IF I’M WAITING FOR SOMEONE. That’s what people do. People volunteer that information. Pretty much across the board.
Let’s treat the single people with a bit of dignity, shall we? Our money spends just like anyone else’s.
Photo by Oleg Ivanov on Unsplash