29 Comments

Loved this fun musings on having lunch by yourself, an experience I treasure myself. Meet me for lunch by ourselves Silvio!

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Thank you, Oscar. You made me laugh there lol. Glad my weirdness resonates. :)

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Reminds me of the Dark Knight Returns final scene where Bruce is having lunch and Alfred is a few tables away and they just nod at each other.

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I'm way behind you on films, as Oscar knows well. But I like what this sounds like :)

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😂😂 You hit on the perfect scene for this!

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Silvio, this is so good!

My favorite part: "I couldn't really meet her for lunch because of force majeure. Sorry, not my fault. Don't believe me? Come over and ask the robbers."

I laughed out loud.

Also, very insightful thoughts on overthinking. I'm going to think about it.

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Camilo! Thank you my friend for your nice words. Thinking about overthinking is the ultimate diabolic loop lol. Good to see you here man. :)

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Such a simple but captivating title. You had me hooked all the way through. Great ending to the story as well, but my favorite part is being given permission to think as much and as long as I want. Every introvert on the planet just breathed a sigh of relief.

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Thank you, Rick! Isn't that so? Why should overthinking be stigmatized? We live in a weird society. Good to know you're part of the overthinkers club. :)

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I LOVE it when life intervenes and plans must be canceled. It’s quite hilarious that this whopper intervention was real and you got more jazzed about having an excuse than the possible danger of the situation. 😂

And this…wow. Rings so true. For me, it’s “meeting for coffee” that I prefer in solitude. All that yabber and catching up is like face planting into an endless stream of reality tv.

“Paradoxically, I find having someone’s face and sounds and words and gestures in front of me distracting, as if paying attention to them -- and not mindlessly unfocusing -- were the real form of distraction.

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Yes, it's all real! When I think back on it, I have mixed emotions. But then I realize there probably wasn't a better way to handle it. Many of my friends know about this story, and it's become famous in our circle to say, 'Sorry, raincheck: bank robbery!' lol. And as for being alone at lunch, that's sacred to me now. I'm glad to see it resonates! I find hanging out with others for lunch overrated (and obviously, this is an 'it's not you, it's me' kind of thing). Thank you so much, Kimberly!

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Haha I am so sad I didn’t read more of your writing since WOP. Always a blast! Have you thought about getting into screenplay writing? This is amazing

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Vicky! Great to see you back! Thank you so much. No, I never thought about something like that. So glad you (continue to) like my rants. :)

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This piece is such a roller coaster in the most fun way! I feel like I’m watching a wry comedy where the lesson comes from the unexpected mundane moments while something crazy happens in the background. This feels so real to you and your voice, and yet also a new style that I really enjoyed. Great essay Silvio!

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Thank you so much, Michelle! The way you describe it is precisely how I wanted it to get across. Awesome words!

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Your sense of humor must have turned that never ever lunch into a dinner :)

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And what a pairing of topic for a story. Robbery hand-in-hand with the drudgery of accompanied lunches. I LOLed throughout.

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And thank you so much for your words. Super glad you liked it!

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Haha no, Jisoo. It was an entirely different situation. :)

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This piece had me laughing out loud, Silvio. I've said this before, but I think you do stream of consciousness writing SO WELL. It inspires me to write more of it.

I hope this piece somehow makes it back to your former colleague so she can see you were telling the truth, lol. This will, however, become my new excuse.

"Sorry, bank robbery. Raincheck?"

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Grace! Sounds excellent as an excuse, doesn’t it. I might have to copyright it lol (but I’ll leave indefinite rights of use to you of course). Thank you!

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The stories you will come up with to avoid a Zoom call with me?!

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LOL Karena! Still waiting for your availabilities. :)

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I would rob a bank to read more of your Solo Lunch Musings

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They will come in abundance, Rach. And maybe you won't even have to rob a bank to read them lol. Thank you! :) (I like Solo Lunch Musings -- great idea!)

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From a fellow solo lunch lover, thank you for saying it. There is no such thing as overthinking, I am free for lunch yes but with myself thank you. Silvio, lovely hilarious read as always - your voice shines through.

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Thank you, Malavika! I always love your interesting remarks and good to see you caught the irony of the title. :)

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"I have to go buy a punching bag or my friend’s car’s on fire" -- bahahaha. Love the fun and thoughts fused together in this!

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Helen! Yes, that one in particular was supposed to make you laugh. And it did! Great! Thank you.

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