More A Way Of Life… Look, this is just between you and me

An “Am I In A Film?” Moment

Every now and then it's brought home to me that my current lifestyle is a slightly unreal one.  I spend a lot of my time away from home, flying around the world, staying in hotels, and eating on my own in cafes and restaurants.  The international jet-setting lifestyle has some advantages, and I'm sure many people would like to give it a go, but a lot of the time it feels a bit repetitive and I feel like I just want to be at home with The Mrs and Gramsci.

And then every now and then I have a moment like the one last night that just makes me grin as I think about it and note that while it could potentially happen if I didn't travel as much as I do, I'd probably not be in that type of situation at home.

I went out after work to get something to eat and drink, and ended up in a bar down the street from the hotel I usually stay in while in SF.  I like the place because it allows that thing that's incredibly difficult to find in the UK - a place where you can sit at the bar for a drink or two and then have a meal without being made to move to a table.  So I got there last night, ordered a glass of wine and started perusing the menu, ordered some food and then settled in with a newspaper.  A woman came and sat at a barstool a couple along, and said a general "hello" to those around her as she settled in.  We exchanged some 'eating alone' pleasantries, then I returned my focus to my food when it arrived.

As I was eating, she made a couple of comments, and I responded as politely as I could, but without particularly (as far as I was aware) engaging.  As I was heading towards the bottom of my second glass of wine and was starting to think about getting the check, she caught my eye and asked if she could buy me another drink.  I said I needed to head back to the hotel and do some work (technically a lie), and she looked very disappointed.  So I apologised and started trying to catch the barman's eye.  When I looked back in her direction, she was rummaging in her bag, and pulled out a hotel key card which she held up for me to see, and raised an eyebrow.

Convinced that what appeared to be happening couldn't actually be, I furrowed my brow quizzically at her and she nodded very clearly.  At the same moment I became aware that the the clearly entertained barman was looking on somewhat expectantly, and I suddenly felt like I was an actor in a drama whose plot I didn't recognise.  As if to underscore her intentions, she very deliberately winked at me.  Seriously out of my depth at this point, I could only think of one thing to do, (and this is the 'am I in a movie?' moment):  I raised my left hand, fingers slightly spread, palm towards me, and showed her my wedding ring.

And then got the hell out of there.