An Invasion of Space

This is Charisse.

My roommate and I went to one of our favorite restaurants this weekend. It’s a quaint and cozy Thai restaurant that we frequent. We usually sit in the exact same seat and if we go in the daytime the light is slightly dimmer than some other places and there is a peaceful ambiance. The food is delicious and the waiters will let you sit there for hour, mostly because there are rarely any other customers. If we go in the evening, there is light music, the lights are turned down really low and there is a candle placed on our table. The food is still delicious and you can sit comfortably for a while.

This weekend, however, was different. When we arrived at the restaurant it was crowded. There were only two tables available and neither was our usual table. I hit two people’s arms and the waiter had to ask a woman to scoot her chair up some for me to get to my table. The music was louder than usual and though the low lights and candles made for an intimate setting, the close proximity to others ruined any chance at privacy. I looked around and everyone was talking and eating and it was harder to focus on my roommate. She must have felt the same way because ever so often her eyes wondered and the conversation would halt.

There was no room for my purse so I was basically holding it and we waited impatiently for the waiter to take our order because the menus were taking up the bulk of the table space. Our food came and it was good as usual. The waiters did not, even with a crowded room, rush us. Everything was essentially the same, but it was drastically different. The space had not changed but things had been added to it to make it something other than the quaint relaxing restaurant I had come to enjoy.

When we left, I felt anxious and slightly claustrophobic. I wanted air and space. It is  interesting to note that places can hold sentimental value for you and they can represent safe havens and peaceful times, but with a few changes or added people, your place of refuge can become unbearable.