LUNCH OUT

I just got back from our big “meal out together”. We went to the Bistro. The food was wonderful and reasonably priced. They sent a limo for us. The place is only 4 blocks away but the limo was really fun. Only a couple had ever been in a limo before.

While I was the organizer, I was not prepared for the anger and hostility that began to pile up within minutes of our arrival. Fourteen of us went so we were treated as a large group. Made sense to me since we were a large group. As soon as Maria read there would be an eighteen percent gratuity tagged on she began complaining and never completely stopped till we got home. I’m not going to pay it. But it’s going to be added to your bill. It’s not right! It’s not fair! So I said we are only four blocks from home, you can leave. They have no right to tell me what I have to tip them. You have a choice. You can leave. That slowed her down some.

Her anger and bad attitude made pleasant conversation difficult. I went to the other two tables to make sure everyone else understood about the gratuity. Everyone was fine with it except one other person, but they were not ranting. The average meal we all purchased was about $12.00. Not bad at all for an up scale lunch with drinks (non-acholic).

This is not a restaurant with a large lunch crowd. As far as I could tell, there was one waiter, one bartender and one cook. There were two other tables with diners. Not a big crowd. Ten minutes after we ordered she was complaining. All the drinks were not out yet. Drinks were not at our table. We had three tables of 6, 5 and 3; He had started at the other tables. He took their orders and got their drinks. We were the last table served.

By this time she had upped the anti on her hostility rant. Twice I asked her to be patient. If I had known it was going to take so long, I wouldn’t have come. It’s not too late to go home. He has not taken your order yet. She made several under her breath comments and finally scalmed down — briefly. Twenty minutes later she was just getting around to take our orders. It didn’t seem long to most of us, but to Maria it was an eternity. That brought on more complaints about the gratuity and the service.

Fifty minutes into our arrival, food was being delivered. We had already endured 10-15 minutes of whining about when our food would arrive. She was starving. She had mentioned that several times within the first few minutes of our arrival. We were quite aware she was hungry. So was our waiter. He served her first.

She had taken the joy out of this event for me. Also for Gail. She could not even look at Maria. Conversation seemed to be swirling around her. She had things to say, but they were independent of the conversation. I don’t even know if she was aware she was being ignored.

I have spent my life being inclusive. I have had my share of arguments around here, without lasting consequence. Eventually both sides have worked things out – rather quickly surprisingly. But since Maria has never done anything wrong there is nothing to forgive.

I have news for her. I will treat her kindly and with friendliness, but our going to do things together is over until she recognizes what she has done to my reputation and me. As I have said before, I will not accept responsibility for something I did not do.

If you haven’t read previous blogs, three of us go to collect free bread on Wednesdays. Carmen did not come to our meeting place on time. After ten minutes we left without her. When we returned she gave me hell for leaving her. She considered it my responsibility to call, knock on her door or come and drag her out of bed, I suppose. She was in her apartment reading. How was I to know? We never had that arrangement. Before about 30 people in the commons room including several from the administrative office, she let everyone know what a scumbag I am. She will never figure out that she did anything wrong or that arriving on time was her responsibility. I have no intention of telling her, but we are done with extra things together until she figures it out and straightens it out. I will forgive and forget, but it is way past time fr her to figure out what she is doing. The world does not revolved around her. She is not a presvhooler any longer — I thought.