She looked at me sort of quizzically while I placed my order, but she didn’t bat an eye and smiled the same smile she always does when I stop in. I don’t think she really cared that I asked for “lllllllemon” in my ice water.

When the waitress brought my water, it had the lemon I had asked for, that’s all that mattered.

I’ve never really liked going to restaurants by myself. I’ve always found it a bit uncomfortable. I used to imagine people saying to themselves, “Oh, that poor lady, she’s eating alone.”

I’ve gotten over that as I’ve matured and realized that people don’t think about me when they’re dining out.

So, now I feel comfortable going to a few restaurants by myself. Especially since I can do like everyone else does – whip out my smart phone and check emails or texts. Not having to make eye contact with anyone simplifies matters when you’re dining alone.

Well, on this day, the waitress wanted to chat. God forbid, right? Chatting in a restaurant like we used to do in the good old days.

The waitress wanted to know what brought me in at an off time of the day. I was there mid-afternoon and there was only one couple sitting together at the counter.

I mentioned that I was between a-a-a-appointments and had not eaten lllllllunch yet. She asked me what I wanted to order.

I was in the mood for comfort food and asked for a gr-gr-gr-grilled cheese sand-sand-sand-wich and to-to-to-mato soup.

She looked at me and smiled and said she’d wait all day for me to say what I had to say and she hoped I expected everyone else to do the same.

I took a chance and said, “well, not everyone is patient, you know.”

The waitress then simply said, “well, honey, fuck them, then. They’re not worth your time.”

And five minutes later she brought me my soup and sandwich and set it on the table, winked, smiled and went on about her business.

That was the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had.