Our stroll didn’t start well. Jimmy and I were seated across from the breakfast buffet, a high traffic area in my book (including the little red book in which I take copious notes whenever it’s my intention to blog about my experience, destination or dining).
I tossed aside all the speculation and accepted the karma that had come my way, including opting for the breakfast buffet. The buffet was so close, after all; why not!
Well, I could give you a dozen reasons why not, after the fact, but at the time it seemed a good option. Suffice it to say, when salt is the only seasoning used by the chef, you know you're in trouble.
Tanya hovered more than usual; the manager appeared, scrutinized the buffet as well as Jimmy and me, and then promptly disappeared (although he was there again to ring us up when we left). Minutes later, kitchen staff arrived with fresh scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and hot cakes despite an ample supply of food at the buffet.
With my appetite gone after several bites of the high sodium eggs, burnt bacon and cold grits, my attention was diverted. I began to see my part in the drama I'd unwittingly created. Jimmy and I had walked into the restaurant a harmless, middle-aged couple as predictable as we were indistinguishable. In the blink of an eye (or perhaps more accurately, the click of a shutter) we’d morphed into any number of mysterious possibilities (okay, me, not we): nut case, corporate spy, health department, food critic, lowly blogger).
I discovered I rather liked morphing into somebody 'special' in this theater in the round. My role certainly guaranteed good service. Good food was another matter altogether.
Jimmy and I closed the show with a quiet departure. No way I was stepping out of character now. Besides, everybody loves a good mystery. They'll be talking about my performance for a month of Sundays. Some days a good mystery is all that separates the memorable from the mundane, the grand from the bland, notoriety from anonymity.
The way I see it, Jimmy and I left them with something tasty to chew on, which was more than I could say for our experience.