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Overheard a weird conversation tonight
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A couple of guys ate dinner together. I figured out they were old one
friends. One was maybe like ten years older than the other, but they
were both a lot older than me.

They looked and dressed and acted like all the people come here. People
with lots of money, and fancy sounding careers.

The older guy told me he used to live in town and this was one of his
favorite restaurants. He asked if we still had the lobster bisque. I
told him of course we did.

I said how I eat it almost every day before my shift. I didn't explain
the details... how we make the bisque before the shift starts, but we
don't add the lobster until right before we serve it.

The older guy said, "I would do the same thing!" Then he looked at his
friend. "See, this is why I wanted to eat here. There's nothing like
this where I live now."

Because of where the two sat, and where I stood, I heard parts of their
conversation.

It seemed like the older guy was previously the younger guy's boss and
now they were catching up.

The older guy had ordered a bowl of the bisque, and he spooned it up
slowly, clearly relishing every moment.

I heard the younger one say, "That lead you sent me, that referral, it
has turned into a huge opportunity!"

The older guy didn't look up, from the bowl, but nodded. "That's
wonderful to hear. You're smart. You just needed a fair shot.
Unfortunately, so many times, people with brains and talent get taken
advantage of. That's the game, really... find something for sale at
below its true price, buy it, sell it, put the markup in your pocket and
do it again."

I had to step away for a while and take care of a few other tables. The
next time I got a chance to listen in, they were finishing their
entrees.

The older guy was talking. "We live divergent lives now."

"I've spent a lot of money and time on my psychologist's couch talking
about it."

When he said that, I got really interested. Other tables in the dining
room were noisy and I wanted to yell at them to shut up, because the din
in the room meant I only heard snippets.

I heard the older one say something like, "Am I going to waste the next
years of my life, trying to salvage a relationship that's too far gone?
Or, am I about to destroy the best thing I've ever had, and I'll regret
it for the rest of my life?"

I glanced at the face of the younger dude. He looked shook.

The old guy went on. "There's a part of me that wonders if I'm unable
experience peace and joy, and for the greater good, for the family, I
should ignore this feeling that I'm not being true to myself."

I was listening so hard, but I saw the kitchen manager waving at me, so
I walked away from my spot.

Later, I dropped off the check. They were back to talking about the
younger one's career.

The older guy paid for the dinner and tipped really well. I don't know
what that means but I think it means he's a good person.