I'm on a business trip right now. LONG days here at the satellite office. Last night I was having a rather late dinner, relaxing in the hotel restaurant and enjoying my meal.
Yes, I was alone. I have read older books, references in outdated magazines to a stigma attached to a woman eating alone in a restaurant. Some women used to feel uncomfortable and pathetic to eat alone. Some restaurants would not welcome solitary females.
But I can find a lot of pleasure in a good meal eaten alone. Especially when the meal is really worth savoring, conversation is not missed because I can focus on how delicious the food is.
Last night I had a lovely soup and salad, with interesting textures and flavors. I was delighting in my meal. I took my hair down and rubbed my head a little.
"I like your hair down." The man from a nearby table leaned away from his other companions to tell me this tidbit.
I smiled and said thanks. I was interested in my meal.
Later, he felt the need to call over to me again.
I answered, somewhat amused. Until he said, in reference to his companions, "These guys have no idea, but you and I know what's going to happen later."
I said, "Well, you're going to think whatever is in your head, and I'm going to go to bed."
"That's what I mean," he said with a leer.
When I used to explore the streets in Russia, I remember I had a rule of thumb. I was worried about the safety of walking around, an American in this foreign city. I took note and realized that there were three levels. When I walked in the company of a male, any male, I was invisible. I was safe and no one paid me any attention. If I walked in the company of one other female, I got a little attention. Lots of stares, a few loud comments.
But when I walked alone, it was as if I was the property of everyone. All the men would stare, and anyone that felt like saying anything to me just when right out and said it. "Devushka..Hey girl, where are you going?"
It's true here in America too. One male person, no matter how physically insignificant or bland, stopped all potential harrassment. It was like it never even existed.
I started to call them magic amulets. If me and some girls were gonna go out somewhere, I would ask them "Should we invite a guy to be our amulet?"
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