THE BACKSTORY

Isolation. Pure and utter isolation can cause hallucinations, rage, and even insanity. Maybe that’s why everyone wants to fit in, to be a part of a group. So that they don’t feel alone. However, I decided I wanted to challenge myself and this idea, the thought of being alone. I decided to separate myself  in a place completely crowded with other people, to be around others, but not with them.

This idea may sound a little crazy, and it may seem like I’ve already spent too much time alone. But I decided to try this because it’s  something I’ve never done before; eating alone in a public restaurant. I’m sure others can relate to seeing the occasional person by themselves in a public eatery, but I wanted to have the new experience of being that lone person.

Being alone isn’t easy for me. When I was younger, my mom wouldn’t let me stay home alone for ten minutes! I would always have to join the shopping excursion, or sit in my older brother’s room, or go to grandma’s house. I guess this feeling of being with others contributes to my aversion of isolation. Rolling solo for some reason just really creeps me out. And of course, because it scares me, I wanted to sit by myself in a crowded In-N-Out.

Every time I’d been to In-N-Out, the line for ordering food was practically out the door. Babies would scream, and loving mothers would hush them. Order numbers would be shouted out, and people would rush to grab their food while it was still hot. I wasn’t sure what to expect this time, but I was definitely thinking something along the lines of the traditional fast food run with salty fries, refreshing drinks, and lots of people crowding the booths and the seats. I was also half expecting someone to come over and sit with me, but I had no such luck.

AND THEN

I opened the swinging doors, and stepped in timidly. I had dodged the dinner break out by about 10 minutes, by arriving at 5:51. A few couples sat in booths around me, and a small family of four sat across the way. The two children in the family, about five and six, were being scolded by their mom for their hyperactivity. Pans clanged and potatoes were sliced in the kitchen, creating a general hubbub in the work area of In-N-Out. Soon, I wasn’t alone as more and more people crowded in for scrumptious sitting full of incredibly delicious burgers and fries.

One person who came in walked over to me. Noticing my track and field sweatshirt, he was intrigued. I later found out that this man, now 58, ran 15 miles a day when he was in high school. Not only that, but when he ran track and field and was on the mile team, his best time was a 3:58 mile. At that point in time, he was less than a tenth of a second away from breaking the world record for the mile. The people you meet when you’re all alone makes the loneliness definitely worth it.

As I munched on my double-double, I noticed a family of six sit down to my left. Some of them gave me weird looks, because they probably don’t see the average teen sitting by himself in a restaurant. However, I smiled and waved, and got an equal response back, and any tensions between myself and the family were eased.

Finally, as I finished my meal, with the heavenly  scent of freshly made french fries still lingering about on my tray, I realized, wow, this wasn’t that bad. Maybe I should do this more often, because I got to meet a man with one of the fastest mile times I’ve ever heard of, and I made friends (somewhat) with a random family! I could do this every night, and I’d be the most popular guy, just by being alone… funny how that works.

THE VERDICT

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience of eating alone for the first time, and I’d say that I’m more than open to the possibility of doing it again. I guess this was just like most things; when you try something new, nervousness naturally settles in. But, as you work your way through the experience, it can be truly enjoyable. My participation in this action fell into the category of enjoyable for sure. I would definitely eat alone again.

by JOEL TIMMS