Dinner with Strangers

Today was a continuation of last nights quiet holiday celebration.... in other words, hanging with my sweet self.  Here is what my "day after Christmas" looked like: in the morning a long walk to drop off some gifts for a good friend; walked up a gigantic hill while attempting to talk on the phone... the sound of heavy breathing and occasional words does not make for a good voicemail message;  cleaned my colon with hydrotherapy session followed by another long walk to Trader Joe's.  Hopped on the bus with lots of people smelling like liquor and b.o.; then onto my next appointment to the chiropractor and more walking.  I worked up quite the appetite and decided to try a little hole in the wall place for pho soup.  Sipped on my tea watching the world pass by.  

Across the street from the restaurant is a Asian bakery, filled with men huddled around a single table in the front by the window.   The 2 men at the table were in a very intense game of chess and everyone else seemed to have their opinion on the next best move to be made.  Boys are a funny bunch indeed.  Couple other fellows dropping off bags of sugar, flour and coffee beans into the bakery....  Then I noticed a lady exiting the establishment, with baked goods in hand, with a pleasant energy about her.  I thought, it's nice to see people in good spirits and enjoying themselves.  Not but a few minutes later, she walked right into the restaurant, picked the table next to mine, conveniently facing me.  She looked over and smile "Are you eating alone?  Do you mind if I join you?"  Really, the only answer is "Sure, come on over and let's have a meal together."  She had a heavy accent, from Peru, a computer graphic designer from Los Angeles.  The oldest of 2 siblings who still live in Peru.  She drove up for the holiday with her dog, part Chihuahua and dachshund with the spots of a hiena.  She'd been smuggling the puppy into her hotel room, as they didn't allow pets.  She felt pretty guilty about the whole thing. 

I was speaking with my best friend about the events of the day and her response was filled with laughter as she said "only you".  What you don't know and she does is that this is a recurring event for me.  When I was in Los Angeles having dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills sitting at the bar by myself, a lady next to me started up a conversation.  She was also by herself, in town for a short visit for work and on a bicycle tour of some sort.  Before that, I attended a Citizen Cope concert in Seattle alone (none of my friends were available that night, so I went anyway) and was approached by two women, noticing I was not with anyone, bought me a drink and invited me to join their group of friends watching the show together.  We ended up hanging out after.  I cannot say how many times this has happened, but countless and more than I can remember now. 

Now, I hope you don't get the impression that I am always by myself, cause I am not, I am with me!  Hee hee.  Seriously, I most love being around my friends and do my best to get the maximum time I can with them... but, when I am alone, even then I am not for long, as I most often get approached by strangers who shortly become momentary acquaintances and sometimes good friends in the future.

Huh?