The funny thing about friends is that they seem to have a way to reverse your intentions. I had my own motives tonight for going out to eat. In the past, I felt that sometimes the places we went to didn’t have enough to eat, or lacked variety, or just wasn’t good enough. Tonight, I opted to go to the casino and have dinner there with my 7 awesome friends.
My plan was to go there first and grab a table. Unlike most places, you have to pay first before you sit down. I figured I’d have enough time to line up, wait around for a while for everyone to stream in, and then pay for everybody in one fell swoop.
I have my own reasons for doing that. Mainly because I felt guilty over the past year. Some friends I didn’t get presents for on their birthdays or for Christmas because I just didn’t know what to get, or someone else would buy around of beer another day and everyone leaves before I can. I don’t want to be known as the guy that mooches or freeloads off of people and tonight would have been my way of saying thanks.
But it didn’t happen. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn’t arrive there soon enough. Another friend reserved a spot for me and just as I had arrived everyone was being led in. I was about to pay for mine before I literally got out muscled and held in check.
And now Christmas is coming up. I have to act swiftly. Perhaps the best feeling that describes my current state is guilt. I had a great time down there though to be sure. I could not have asked for a better crew to be a part of.
But it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.