Another Lunch Break; Another Prize

Having just finished up my lunch at "Generic Chinese Take Out and Eat In Fun Place" in Downtown, I find it important to tell you just a little bit about my lunch break and share with you an important moment in my day. It was a moment that happens often to people like me (young professionals) but that isn't often enough shared with the rest of you (aspiring young professionals). It is a moment that brings faith to all of you dreamers. It is a moment where you can say "yeah, it's good to be me."

10:30 a.m. I informed one of the secretaries that I'll be leaving at noon to meet up with some friends for lunch. I like to give her an hour and a half notice at least, because then she realizes the careful planning that went into this and will no doubt tell her friends at the watercooler how much more "doable" I am.

11:58 a.m. One of the attorneys asks me to appear in court for him on behalf of his client. I say I will, "but after I meet up with some friends for lunch." He doesn't control me.

12:00 p.m. I arrive at the designated meeting place in 2 minutes (meeting place was 2 miles away, do the math. I dogged it.) My friends are running late. I appear to be impatient and in a hurry by alternating between (1) thrusting my hands in and out of the deep pockets of my pea coat and sighing and (2) looking through my file folder at important case sensitive materials. I'm still waiting when a man about my age walks by with an armful of manilla folders and gives me a nod and a grin. I nod back but I DO NOT GRIN, because he is wearing some "wannabe pea coat." To the untrained eye it is a pea coat but I can tell that it's just gray fleece. And it's not even ITALIAN! HA!

12:07 p.m. My friends come out of the school they attend (I eat lunch with aspiring young professionals. I give back to the community) and I immediately make them feel bad by telling them that if I don't make it to Court this client of ours is going to have a warrant issued. They hang their heads and let me choose the restaurant. I defer, and wait for one of them to pick so that I can veto it and pick one of my own anyway.

12:08 p.m. Robert says "Chinese" and I'm okay with it. I pass it off as my idea and push on ahead of them. They zip up their hooded sweatshirts and try and keep pace with my long professional strides.

12:10 p.m. We arrive at the Chinese place and I order quickly and decisively. I order Hunan Chicken, extra spicy. Why extra spicy? Because if I don't, someone else will. The people around who were within ear shot are impressed.

12:16 p.m. We receive our food. I thank the waitress in Mandarin and I eat the whole thing with chopsticks to show my advanced knowledge of foreign culture and cuisine. Everyone within earshot is impressed.

12:45 p.m. I finish eating and reach for my fortune cookie. Here is where the moment happens. I open the cookie by firmly grasping it as if I were going to shake a hand and crushing it to bits. I dust the remnants on to the floor for someone to pick up later. Everyone else takes turns reading their fortunes. "An unexpected payment will come to you, (sucker)" "The benefits of your efforts will pay off soon (loser)" and "Time heals all wounds, keep your chin up (EMO)"

Then it's my turn. With perfect pronunciation, I articulate mine.

"You will receive a prestigious honor or award."

I drop the fortune on the table and subtlely celebrate the fact that mine was the best and truest.
I dismiss myself, again reminding everyone that I have important stuff to do and that I took time out of my day to join them. They offer me their best wishes and admiration. I head off into the great beyond.

So you see, friends, there's nothing to it. When you're a young professional, good things happen. Remember that. I tell you all this because I want you to keep fighting, keep working, keep practicing, and one day, you'll be able to truly say. "yeah, it's good to be me."