Dinner for One

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I've begun to notice that restaurants and just about any place that offers food and tables almost always have newspapers and magazines for their patrons. These are, I presume, for those who are alone and want something to read while eating instead of staring at the walls. Given that a large percentage of the population in Finland lives alone, it makes a certain amount of sense, but I still find it odd to gaze upon a sea of tables occupied by people trying to read and stuff their mouth at the same time, something I find quite difficult to do. I don't remember too many places in the US, other than diners or breakfast houses, that would offer newspapers for the patrons.

I always used to get take-away whenever I had no companion to dine with as I viewed restaurants as a place to be social and would feel very awkward were I alone. Sometimes I would take a book with me to a local pub where I would sit at the bar, order a beer and a burger, and read a little bit until someone would ask about the book or about work or whatever just to start a conversation. I suppose I admire the wherewithal it takes to take yourself out to eat, but there's something incredibly lonely about it, too. Finns likely don't even notice the silent ones in the corner munching away over the paper and even if they did they'd likely think they want to be left alone. I suppose they have to believe that.