A couple of months ago, my good friend Ashok and I were talking about outsourcing. Ashok had just been asked if he thought that outsourcing was a fair practice, especially since it meant more work and less pay for our brethern back in India. I had quipped, purely wanton and to solicit a laugh, that they'd probably work for a sandwich. This week I flew up to Oregon for work. I spent Monday in Portland, catching up with some co-workers and friends. We got dinner later that night. Portland has the largest number of restaurants per capita, more than any other city in the US. That means there's a lot of great great food around, waiting to be tried. John Mackey, the CEO of whole foods, once said, that of the many pleasures that human beings seek and enjoy, great food probably made up for most of it. (Unless you're oversexed and underfed.)
We had dinner at a great place. And then I drove to Eugene, where I was to wake up at the crack of dawn an get to work. Work went by fast and I was out by 6pm. I wanted to go to a place called Electric Station, a former train station that's become a super-pop restaurant. I decided to walk and unfortunately, without a map. It took about 20 minutes of walking around random streets that I realised that I was lost. At first walking around in a strange place was refreshing, but as darkness began to set in, I wanted nothing more but a bite to eat.
I saw this one gal walking on the same deserted street I was on. And she was cute, so I mustered some courage and asked her if she could tell me where the restaurant. "What's in it for me?" was the response. Fiesty little thing, I thought. The 5 seconds that I took to smile at her while I contemplated a comeback seemed pretty long.
My mind was running at warp speed. Usually this is the time my head starts talking to itself.
What do I say? What do I say?
Am I looking stupid?
(Offcourse I am.)
Damn it! Say something.
Tell her that she's a good gal for showing a man her way.
No NO NO!!!
Does she want a sandwich?
(She's not homeless..)
(She's not homeless..)
Seriously.. SERIOUSLY @#**!
Ah!!! I've got it.
There's a good meal and some tolerable company for you, if you walk with me to the restaurant, I said. This brunette looked at me weird for a moment. Or you could just tell me where to go and continue with your evening and followed by an evil grin. =)
She did give me directions, and I thanked her and started walking to the restaurant. She "had plans." As I was walking I wondered why I had just invited her to dinner? I mean, why did I do it? Was I being social or I that I just didnt want to eat alone that one night. As I did, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Anitra (she had a badge), the gal who I was talking to me 5 minutes ago.
In a blushing, shy and seemingly feeling awkward tone she asked me if the offer of dinner was still standing. I smiled with my shiny 32 on display. No, it isnt. But you can earn your meal by telling me about what there is to know about Eugene. And we were on our way.
As we walked, Anitra, who preferred to be called Andrea (beats me) told me that Eugene was settle in the late 1800s and was primarily a lumbering town, but now it was into wine, technology, outdoor tourism and all kinds of cool stuff. There was a university that she attended and studied physical sciences there. She was most definitely looked the part. She wanted to be a sports physician and work for the US soccer team. And then from Eugene, our conversation became more focussed on Andrea.
Over the next 90 minutes we ate, I told her what I did and why I came to Eugene. I told her how sometimes having dinner with a stranger is the most welcome thing that could happen and that I was really happy that she could join me. She ordered the Seafood Mornay, with wine and took some of it to go.
After dinner, she offered to walk me back to my hotel and I thought it was nice of her. About 10 minutes later, we were at the Hilton on 6th Street. So, we're here, she said. Yes, we indeed were. There was this glow in her eyes, my head telling me that here was an opportunity to capitalise on. I liked her, it was a perfect evening, but for some reason I wanted to leave it at that. Yeah, I have an early morning tomorrow, but thank you for being so good to a complete stranger, I'm sure it'll come back around.
She looked at me. Her grey eyes were gleaming beautifully under the sodium lamp. She hugged me, kissed my cheek and told me that she had a great time. Then wrote her number on the receipt (because we didnt have any paper) and asked to give her a call if I needed directions again.
So off I went into the hotel, took the elevator, changed and popped into bed. As the lights went out and I looked out to the window, with the city overlayed on a moonlight horizon, there was this feeling of calm satisfaction that put a smile on my face as I began to count sheep.
Ah!!! I've got it.
There's a good meal and some tolerable company for you, if you walk with me to the restaurant, I said. This brunette looked at me weird for a moment. Or you could just tell me where to go and continue with your evening and followed by an evil grin. =)
She did give me directions, and I thanked her and started walking to the restaurant. She "had plans." As I was walking I wondered why I had just invited her to dinner? I mean, why did I do it? Was I being social or I that I just didnt want to eat alone that one night. As I did, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Anitra (she had a badge), the gal who I was talking to me 5 minutes ago.
In a blushing, shy and seemingly feeling awkward tone she asked me if the offer of dinner was still standing. I smiled with my shiny 32 on display. No, it isnt. But you can earn your meal by telling me about what there is to know about Eugene. And we were on our way.
As we walked, Anitra, who preferred to be called Andrea (beats me) told me that Eugene was settle in the late 1800s and was primarily a lumbering town, but now it was into wine, technology, outdoor tourism and all kinds of cool stuff. There was a university that she attended and studied physical sciences there. She was most definitely looked the part. She wanted to be a sports physician and work for the US soccer team. And then from Eugene, our conversation became more focussed on Andrea.
Over the next 90 minutes we ate, I told her what I did and why I came to Eugene. I told her how sometimes having dinner with a stranger is the most welcome thing that could happen and that I was really happy that she could join me. She ordered the Seafood Mornay, with wine and took some of it to go.
After dinner, she offered to walk me back to my hotel and I thought it was nice of her. About 10 minutes later, we were at the Hilton on 6th Street. So, we're here, she said. Yes, we indeed were. There was this glow in her eyes, my head telling me that here was an opportunity to capitalise on. I liked her, it was a perfect evening, but for some reason I wanted to leave it at that. Yeah, I have an early morning tomorrow, but thank you for being so good to a complete stranger, I'm sure it'll come back around.
She looked at me. Her grey eyes were gleaming beautifully under the sodium lamp. She hugged me, kissed my cheek and told me that she had a great time. Then wrote her number on the receipt (because we didnt have any paper) and asked to give her a call if I needed directions again.
So off I went into the hotel, took the elevator, changed and popped into bed. As the lights went out and I looked out to the window, with the city overlayed on a moonlight horizon, there was this feeling of calm satisfaction that put a smile on my face as I began to count sheep.
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