Yesterday, the wife and I went to Applebee’s to finish using up a gift card that was months old with what we thought was a fraction of a meal on it. The upside of the meal was they had extended their Monday Night Football deal of $5 Burgers and $5 Pitcher of beer into something called Burgers and Beer (every Monday 4pm – close). The downside of the meal was that we were drastically shorted fries again (I think it’s a Monday thing!), I had already written about this event, and at “check out time” I came to the realization I am a much different person that I was a year ago. That is the direction this post is going to go.

When paying our bill, I looked up from the “You owe” line and realized that our bill was conveniently broken into guest 1 and guest 2. This is a big break from my past in which I could be standing in line at a Walmart checking out with Doritos and a case of beer, and have a woman w/cart and children behind me with organic food and a goat, and the cashier would still ask “Are you guys together?”. Do I now look less responsible? Do I seem to happy to have a spouse? I am not sure what changes I have made to my actions or outwardly appearance, but it’s definitely making people assume I am not “together” with anyone and everyone.

Do you notice differences when a waitress assumes you and your spouse aren’t together and puts you on separate tickets? Or tries to separate your orders at the local big box store because you only purchase what can fit in your mitts?