Free Food and P. Susan

There is something that P. Susan always said to me that I think most people are thinking, but wouldn't say. No it wasn't that my hair was messed up or I had a poppy seed in my teeth (although I could count on her for that too). She said that if the food was free, she couldn't afford not to eat it or save it for later. I took this as incredible wisdom and we began putting ourselves on alert for free food.

P. Susan was my friend during a time where I did nothing but work- and by choice. I didn't want to get out of bed, except for work and when home, I ate ravioli out of a can, ramen noodles or a generic bag of chips while watching Seinfeld reruns. I knew P. was doing the same thing at the same time- unless she called me.

She would say something like, "come down to ____________ Gallery."

Me: "P. I can't, I'm already in my PJ's."
P: "Just come down here, it's boring, we need some fun people."
Me: "I'm not fun tonite- I'm tired and don't feel like seeing anyone."
P: "Look, there's free food."
Me: "I'm not in the mood to snack off a cheese plate that's all dried up with grape juice posing as wine."
P: "NO! A brand new Asian restaurant opened up tonight and they have appetizers all the way out the door on the patio! FREE!!!"
Me: "Getting dressed now, be right down."

I would get there and P. Susan had no problem pointing out which appetizers to skip and which ones to double up on. She would wave the waiters by or make them stop for me. I had egg rolls, sushi, salads, and even caviar! We would pig out, talk to some people, watch some people buy some art, listen to a new a band, meet a new client and still make it home in time for the second running of the earlier Seinfeld marathon.

There is definitely something about free food that tastes much better- don't kid yourself. Nothing is free. You have to get out of bed, get dressed and socialize. It's out there and it's not government cheese. Whenever I'm down and think I won't have enough to pay my grocery bill, I remember that I was able to eat free at least once a week when P. reminded me. I haven't gotten to hang out with P in several years now. I miss her and I'm determined to find a free meal soon!