Crotchety Old Man?

Am I becoming a crotchety old man? If my behavior last night is an indicator, it just might be. I skipped dinner before the performance and so was feeling a bit peckish following the show. There is a Hamburger Marys two blocks from our hotel. I knew I could get a late night meal there, so I made a beeline to the restaurant minutes after the curtain came down. When I walked into Hamburger Marys, the bar side of the place was hopping. There was big fund-raiser for Equality Cincinnati. The host(ess) was in drag, dressed like Barbara Bush in black suit and pearls, with teased helmet of hair. I asked to be seated near the door where there was some light on the table.

Within minutes, I had ordered. Now, realize there were hundreds of Gay men and women on the premises; the restaurant was quite full. The music was loud, the bass thumping; a drag show in progress; around me the place was hopping; people were having fun.

What did I do? I sat alone at the table eating my burger, dressed in my sweats and baseball cap, glasses perched on the end of my nose, calmly reading the USA Today Sports section, occasionally looking up with some annoyance at being disturbed by the whirl of activity around me. On some subconscious level, I even realized the cute, goateed waiter was flirting with me. But, what did I do? I complimented him on his service and asked for a refill of my soda:)

Am I getting old? Am I no longer willing to subject myself to noise and smoke for the opportunity of a chance meeting? Am I getting so focused on being professional, so unwilling to drag myself into work bleary-eyed and hurting, that I can’t have fun on the road? I prefer to think that I’ve evolved and am no longer willing to put myself in situations, or in the midst of a crowd of people, I won’t enjoy. I like to believe I have better things to do with my time. Oh hell .... listen to me .... I'm just becoming a crotchety old man:) Now, where did I put that disco fever?

ps.... Tonight was the "Evita" tour's 250th performance!

Crotchety Old Man?

Am I becoming a crotchety old man? If my behavior last night is an indicator, it just might be. I skipped dinner before the performance and so was feeling a bit peckish following the show. There is a Hamburger Marys two blocks from our hotel. I knew I could get a late night meal there, so I made a beeline to the restaurant minutes after the curtain came down. When I walked into Hamburger Marys, the bar side of the place was hopping. There was big fund-raiser for Equality Cincinnati. The host(ess) was in drag, dressed like Barbara Bush in black suit and pearls, with teased helmet of hair. I asked to be seated near the door where there was some light on the table.

Within minutes, I had ordered. Now, realize there were hundreds of Gay men and women on the premises; the restaurant was quite full. The music was loud, the bass thumping; a drag show in progress; around me the place was hopping; people were having fun.

What did I do? I sat alone at the table eating my burger, dressed in my sweats and baseball cap, glasses perched on the end of my nose, calmly reading the USA Today Sports section, occasionally looking up with some annoyance at being disturbed by the whirl of activity around me. On some subconscious level, I even realized the cute, goateed waiter was flirting with me. But, what did I do? I complimented him on his service and asked for a refill of my soda:)

Am I getting old? Am I no longer willing to subject myself to noise and smoke for the opportunity of a chance meeting? Am I getting so focused on being professional, so unwilling to drag myself into work bleary-eyed and hurting, that I can’t have fun on the road? I prefer to think that I’ve evolved and am no longer willing to put myself in situations, or in the midst of a crowd of people, I won’t enjoy. I like to believe I have better things to do with my time. Oh hell .... listen to me .... I'm just becoming a crotchety old man:) Now, where did I put that disco fever?

ps.... Tonight was the "Evita" tour's 250th performance!