FIRE ON TABLE 10

I’m a diner girl from way back.

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Fried Chicken and French fries, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and even Pigs-in-a-Blanket are part of my favorite meal memories.

Of course, these days they are an indulgence I can only look forward to maybe every other month. I love the lingo, ‘pickup for table 6’ and ‘Adam & Eve on a raft’ and even “potatoes on fire’ for that extra special zing. More often than not I am ordering salad or a steak; filling and nutritious, but not very exciting. Girls my age have to be all about the calorie intake now.

So it is with great pleasure and somewhat giddiness I sometimes dine at an upscale restaurant; the opportunity to ‘dress up’ and order a glass of wine with my girlfriends is a big deal, and something to which I look forward.

Ordering something out of the ordinary makes it all the more memorable.

I have begun to wonder, though, why it is now exciting to go with friends as opposed to a date – and when did that begin? I can picture myself well into my 90’s, donning pearls and waiting for ‘lady friends’ to meet me at our table. Talking about our kids and husbands, maybe even the next trip we might take.

When did this happen? Is it a natural progression of friendship? When we can no longer go bar hopping or dancing on tables, are we reduced to mild mannered dinners with our companions, hoping we don’t fall asleep in our wine glasses, or set our cloth napkins on fire by having them too close to the candles?

I’ve begun to need my eyeglasses to read the menu. We used to joke and hold them up for the one across from us to be able to see. Now we can’t see the one across the way without our spectacles, so why bother?

The best I can hope for is that we all grow old together, needing each other to find our places at the table, no matter how long it takes.

And just for excitement, maybe setting a cloth napkin on fire. Even at a diner.

“Fire on table 10.” If you hear that, then you’ll know it’s me.