MIS-GUIDED SELF-EXPRESSION

So there I am sitting at lunch in my favorite restaurant on the planet.

Being a constant people-watcher (a habit I picked up living in New York City) I began to watch this woman across the restaurant. She had the most peculiar habits.

First, she only ate half her food and then asked the waitress for a take-home container. I despise this practice! Why don't people order HALF PORTIONS or SPLIT A WHOLE PORTION with a friend. Why must they drag the food home?

After she put all her food in the take-home container, she them proceeded to take her fingers and wipe the plates and containers she had been eating from, and LICK HER FINGERS!! At this point I wanted to go across the room and slap her. I mentioned this to the waitress (who's a good friend) and she said, "Richard, they're young. Shut up."

So I began to think about that and then she stood up. She was wearing a multi-colored skirt studded with sequins. Yes, in the middle of the day. That was the living end for me.

And that's when I realized that not only was she young, she was "expressing herself" - - and she was completely misguided in her effort.

I don't think everyone should dress alike, or even have a dress code. But to "express yourself" with your clothing is soooooo 60's. And completely misguided. At least she didn't spend the meal watching her Blackberry.

I have spoken.