Something to do

I dare you.

Go into a restaurant. A nice restaurant. It doesn't have to be expensive, but someplace where you have to be seated and order your food. And not a chain. Please.

Ask for a pleasant table. Or a seat at the window, that will do.

Order yourself a salad and an entree, and a drink if you like.

Eat by yourself. Think about your food. Watch people go by. You can wear headphones and listen to music, or read a book, if you want. But the main point of this is to be by yourself.

It's kind of scary. But its also kind of empowering.

Don't hurry. Don't be embarrassed. Don't apologize.

This is what I did tonight. I had roasted beet salad with orange vinaigrette, feta cheese and almonds, and peppery Spanish-style chicken canalone at Chez Shea in Half Moon Bay. Aside from some decidedly pink-not-red March tomatoes (chef: slice up some oranges, instead! It ain't summer yet!) it was quite perfect.

Then I went to watch the sunset at Poplar Beach. I walked a bit and the waves quickly erased any trace of me.

All by myself. I like it a lot.

Tomorrow: back to the crazy house. I like that, too.