All by myself* - Eric Carmen

I really dun mind going to a eating joint and having a meal all by myself. In some ways, i quite like it - but that's for another post. One of the things i like to do is to watch people and wonder about their lives.

The strange thing about me is that i feel sad for some people when i see them eating alone. Like today. There were 2 incidents - i was waiting for my car to be fixed up so i had breakfast and lunch and tea all by myself. Doing work, of course!!!

First was when i had breakfast at McDonald's - and there were a few elderly men eating breakfast there on their own. So i started thinking if they were all alone in their own world. Were they single men - so no children or grand kids to keep them company? Or their families are not interested in them? Or widowers? Unfortunate enough to outlive their partner but to go thru life on their own? Or did they drive their families and frens away - and now they live their remaining days here in regret but just too arrogant to do anything about it?

Then later, as i was having tea at Lotus, there was this really young guy having probably his late lunch. If he was in a school uniform, i would prolly think he could not be older than Form 3!!! But he was dressed like those typical salesperson - shirt, slacks, black shoes. He ordered his food in a polite soft voice and proceeded to make a phone call.

I then though about whether he loves his job or not... prolly not. And i'm so thankful to God that i'm doing what i want to. But poor fella - having to go around in the hot and humid weather everyday. How much can he make? Did he also lived his life in regret - not studying harder? or in bitterness - not being able to have the chance to do what he wants to. Perhaps he had to leave school early to take care of his family? Then i thought about the pressure he must face - as a young man living in the Klang Valley, it must be sooo difficult to make ends meet.

But the happy note about this dude was that he obviously had someone special in his life as he carried on chatting away on his mobile (as mentioned, he was a soft-spoken guy so i couldn't really tell what he was saying) thruout his entire meal. so he din really eat the meal on his own.

I wonder what do people think when they see me eating alone? But perhaps, no one else is as busybody as i am... lol!!!

*His hit back in the mid-70s. The verse is based on the second movement (Adagio Sostenuto) of one of Sergei Rachmaninoff's piano concerto.