NJM14: #datingmyself in These Foolish Things

Date with myself was lovely if not uneventful. I took myself to this hip Japanese restaurant and sat at the bar for some dinner and wine. The bar was FULL when I arrived but there was one spot open on the corner and it was next to a woman sitting by herself. She didn’t seem friendly and kind of sat with her back angled away from me, so I could tell she wasn’t interested in conversation. That’s fine - I wasn’t necessarily interested in talking with her either.

I sat and soaked in the atmosphere. I could hear tiny tidbits of conversations. I could hear two doctors talking about their patients at a table nearby. I could hear parts of the conversation of the three Asian guys playing some kind of video games on their phones (?) and showing each other next to me at the bar…didn’t really understand that at all. And I could hear bits and pieces of conversation from the SUPER cocky and loud young businessmen sitting at the community table behind me.

I watched a date taking place between a very old man and a very young woman. They looked so happy and animated. I saw two men on what looked like a very romantic date in a far corner of the dining room. I watched two hijab-clad women having deep conversations. I watched a very colorful couple - a rubenesque woman in heavy, heavy makeup and her…boyfriend (?) who had the longest, shiniest hair I’ve ever seen on a man. He was huge and he was wearing a fancy suit and they looked like they were very familiar with each other. I listened to the crackle and pop and smelled the smoky scent of a table closeby cooking thin slices of wagyu beef on a hot rock.

I decided that since I have been diagnosed as being anemic recently (from the antiplatelet meds, I’m assuming) I’d get myself a hot rock to cook some lovely red meat. I can’t remember the last time I ate red meat, but it’s supposed to help with iron levels so I can build up my red blood cells again. And I ordered some brussels sprouts to complement the hot rock and my pinot noir.

It was all delicious and the atmosphere was warm but not cozy and I talked to no one. Honestly, it’s rare that I sit at a bar and don’t talk to a single soul. But this place leans younger - it’s mostly a millennial crowd. I don’t know that being millennial necessarily equals unfriendly by any means, but maybe being a millennial on a Wednesday night at THIS particular place means you don’t talk to any GenXers. Ha!

Regardless, it was a really nice evening/dinner/date. I enjoy doing that so I should do it again soon. People watching is such a spectator sport!

Fascinated,
GS