I like to leave the office for my lunch break. I used to have a bad tendency to simply never take a lunch, in jobs past. Now, I make it a point to. I’m not getting paid for that hour, and damnit, I need to be kind to myself. Take the hour. Ingest some fresh air. Get off my ass. De-stress myself as much as possible.
Thing is, my office is in a weird little spot. There are no parks nearby, and it’s not close enough to downtown to go for a stroll. We’re right on a highway, so it’s pretty much either: have lunch at your desk (and continue working, because you won’t be left alone), take your lunch break in your vehicle in the parking lot (weird and awkward), take your lunch to the picnic table out back (and not be left alone), go out to eat (and go broke), or take your lunch to some other random parking lot.
The last option on that list is the one most people in this vicinity seem to gravitate to. I spend nearly every one of my lunch breaks sitting in my vehicle, parked in the parking lot of a local grocery store. And anywhere from five to two dozen other folks are doing the same thing.
All parked in the grocery store parking lot. Eating lunch. Alone. But together. Some listening to music. Some chatting on their phones. Some texting. Some playing games. Some smoking. Some napping. Some exiting their vehicles and sitting on the asphalt, just to be that much closer to fresh air and sunshine.
We exchange occasional nods of acknowledgement when we accidentally make eye contact with fellow Parking Lot People.
Other than that, it’s a solo thing. For many. It’s weird and sad and uplifting all at the same time.
And I dunno why, but I just wanted to mention these Parking Lot People, of whom I’m one.
That is all.
that sucks but keep looking around. everyone deserves a lunch break. you get an hour? hot dayum!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 Yeh. I’ve had to work through lunch at most of my jobs. So I’m trying to force myself to take them, but it’s hard to make it a habit now!
LikeLike
A great analogy to the modern world…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Right? Sad in so many ways, but weirdly special.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to do this when I had an hour-long break. Sometimes it’s nice to have time just to yourself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s nice to take that time for myself. It’s one of the only alone times I get anymore!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was one at my last job. I frequently went to the park nearby, where sometimes there were one or two parking lot people, but some days, I parked in the huge Supercenter lot, where there must have been 10 of us any given day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish there were a nearby park, but I’ll take what I can get for now! 🙂
LikeLike
A bunch of roaming parking lotters, you lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 yeh yeh. And I know! I’m trying to find time/place to write. A bustedass laptop is not helping!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So make it help then. It needs to pay the rent, doesn’t it?
LikeLike
What?! How does buying a laptop help me pay rent?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The laptop pays the rent.
LikeLike
How?!
LikeLike
Through the power of creation.
P.S. Write more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know I know 😔😩😤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw that. Computer is my next purchase.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just found this and it looks like it’s been a few months since you last wrote. Here’s hoping that you’re surviving through all this.
LikeLike
Hi Jason….it’s been a whopping two years since your message, and I’m just now surfacing. If you’re still out there in the ether…hi. And thank you for stopping by.
LikeLike
Welcome to the surface! There’s some air here, but not as much as one would hope. I’m still here in the ether — so, hello. Glad to be here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! And thank you for the welcome! Perhaps I’ll stick around for more than a few minutes this time. 🫣
LikeLike
Hang on, no blog for me to follow-back?! Quelle horreur!
LikeLike