Time Alone with Mundane Thoughts

The first time I remember being in a restaurant by myself was when I was almost 17. It was when my parents decided to ship me off to another state/province. 

They first did a trial run over the summer holidays. They made it sound like I was on an important mission to help them. They were building a custom home and they wanted me to take on the responsibility of overseeing it! And if I really liked this "job", I could go to school there for a year and keep an eye on the construction work. I would be doing them a huge favour. 

My parents are one of a kind!

So, for the trial run, my dad was supposed to drive me to the airport and he had some work to do en route. My dad always has work to do and he is constantly combining it with other things he has to do in his life. But he was very thoughtful. He dropped me off in one of the nicest spots in the downtown of one of the biggest cities in the world. I was in that part of downtown where there was a huge happening record store, several quaint little book stores and a sweet little Café with tables covered with chequered cloth.

I picked up some audio tapes for my brother that my dad would take back with him after the drop off. I bought some cook books with baking recipes to read on the plane. And finally, I settled myself at a table in the Café to wait for my dad. For the life of me, I do not remember what I ordered that day. 

But I felt very grownup!

Even though I was somewhat resentful of my parents then, I could still appreciate the experience I just had. Not many kids that age have such wondrous moments in their lives.

Today, I ended up in a restaurant by myself and all the above came back to me. There is something serene about eating by oneself in a restaurant. It helps if one does not care about what people may think about it. In fact, eating by oneself is not so unusual anymore. It is most common in coffee shops where people drink their cup of java or whatever and look super busy while they type away on their laptops or simply finger swipe their way through the Internet on their fancy tablets. Of course, as always, there are also people who are in company!

A lot has changed since I was 17. And yet, I was still able to appreciate the experience I just had. At 43, I felt like nothing had changed at all. My dad still schedules everything around his work. My parents still try to make me feel important in some way even if they have stopped trying to ship me off or rather "air lift" me to somewhere far away! My brother still appreciates every little gesture I make. These days I actually buy books for him! There is definitely a sense of comfort in the ordinary.

Yesterday, one of our friends turned 40 and this is the year 3 more turn 40. I will be 44 soon. And it hit me that I enjoy being "40 something". It is a different kind of being grownup. I feel like I am finally on my way. I feel great!

So, to my friends who are turning 40 this year, I want to say, "Welcome to your 40s! These are the best days of your life!"

And I look forward to my 50s. If I am on my way now, I would be so accomplished when I get there!