OPEN LETTERS

An Open Letter to the Woman Eating a Burger While Holding Her Ice Cream Cone

Photo on Photostockeditor

Dear Ice Cream Cone Girl,

You caught my attention with your burger in one hand, ice-cream cone in the other. You’re trying to finish the burger before the cone melts.

I don’t know you, but I’m imagining that you were very excited by the menu, possibly a tourist and felt like you had to go all-in. But in your excitement, you forgot about the logistics of eating cold dairy on a summer day. And something about it made me so sad.

You’ve made it through the burger but now you have pulled up some hidden waffle fries.

I can’t see your cone anymore, what happened to it?

I hope you’re happy.

I hope you’re not lonely.

For someone who goes out alone so often, I get so worried about anyone else by themselves. I fear that this is your venture into the world and that what you return to is isolation and sadness.

Maybe I’m the sad one, projecting all this on you.

But wait, the cone has reappeared, and intact! It looks good. I’m starting to think maybe you weren’t overexcited when ordered. Maybe you wouldn’t have ordered any other way, and you’re actually really that all your treats came at once.

In fact, maybe you will share this story with someone later, but right now, this was the quiet moment you needed. Away from it all.

Your cool-as-a-cucumber persona may be accurate. You may be a relatively content person.

This is something I struggle to comprehend, questioning if it can even be real.

Again, maybe I’m the sad one. The sad one who will sit here until you finished, the silent supporter you didn’t ask for.

But I have to ask, why haven’t you smiled once or speed up your eating? I didn’t even know one could eat ice cream without the greedy urgency of a child.

You also haven’t looked at your phone or seemed to notice me constantly turning over my left shoulder to look at you.

Do you not care? Or just don’t assume the world revolves around you?

You do seem worried about the toddler that was left standing on a rickety chair by his dad. I think you’re keeping an eye on him in case tragedy strikes- that makes two of us.

But no matter for him now because you have reached the end of your cone. Congratulations!

What’s this you have in your hand now, your phone? A phone! To communicate with friends and loved ones!

Oh shoot, we just made eye contact.

Have you actually been aware of me this whole time? The weird, blonde girl writing in my Moleskin journal at a café in the middle of the workweek?

It doesn’t matter, because you’re leaving now, with the same level of energy as when you sat down.

I realize now that you weren’t sad, it was me. But the simple gift of your ice cream journey has made me smile. I hope it was the best damn ice cream you’ve ever had, and despite my crazy ideas you’re on your way to something amazing.

Goodbye ice-cream girl.

Sincerely,

Moody blonde girl with the Moleskin journal