I decided to have dinner at a local restaurant the other evening.  I called my best friend to join me, and off we went.

We soon arrived, and with five minutes we were seated in a booth.  I watched as another couple, and another, were seated near us.  Their orders were taken, their food and drinks were served, and there we were – still waiting for at least a glass of water and an acknowledgement.

The restaurant was crowded, and there were only two waiters.

I tried to get the attention of any of those two waiters.

No dice.

Ten minutes.

Fifteen minutes.

Thirty minutes.

Nothing.  No acknowledgement.  No service.

We left and headed to the barbecue joint next door, where we were seated and served within seven minutes.  It was crowded there, too, but there was a full waitstaff.

Welcome to this new world.

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©2022, excerpt from “Passage to Paradise”