Skype Brunch

Would you believe that I've never actually eaten out at a restaurant by myself? Well, okay, maybe that's not entirely true--I had some positively abominable Chicken Enchilada soup at the Chili's Too in the Charlotte, NC airport last week during a layover. And of course there are the quasi-fast foody sandwich joints, and the coffee shops that just happen to have food. In those instances, I usually bring a book or something to study, maybe a moleskine that I can write in while I sit and eat/drink, sometimes for practical reasons (like actually having work to do), but most of the time, so I won't feel pathetic because I'm eating alone...BEING alone.


But there is nothing un-beautiful about being alone.

This morning, with the aid of my darling friend, Ariana, I went out to brunch. Alone. Ariana, being the amazing woman that she is, agreed to Skype chat me through my first solitary dining-out experience (which, yes, I know, doesn't really make it a solitary experience--baby steps). We made it a date. I woke up, put on some make-up and a cute outfit, fixed my hair, just like I would were I headed out with a friend. I went to Tommy's on Coventry and asked for a table for one, where I sat and ordered myself a V8, some coffee, and a Johnny Z. omelet. Ari joined me from a coffee shop in Baltimore, and we gabbed our way through the better part of an hour, both receiving weird looks from the clientele in our respective dining establishments. Then my computer battery ran out. So I just sat there for a bit, eating my omelet and talking to no one. Having a date with Jenna. And in that moment (once I got over feeling like my throat was closing up), I felt appreciated. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and let myself be alone. I didn't need anyone to tell me I looked pretty. I didn't feel the need to convince anyone that I was worth their while or dazzle them with my knowledge of obscure Tom Waits albums or whatever shit I could come up with to prove how interesting I am. I was with me, with a Jenna, and she thinks I'm wonderful.