Change of Location

Fiorella had a wonderful visit with friend Paula yesterday, and they decided something frighteningly momentous--to move from Dan's Hamburgers, where they've met for years, to the McDonald's down the street. Fio suggested McDonald's because she's been meeting there with friend Evelyn ever since they deserted Starbucks when its decor changed from small tables to long planks reminiscent of a college dorm or a German drinking party.

McDonalds has changed since Fio used to take her kids there when it was a teenager and kiddie heaven. The McDonald's that Fiorella is now patronizing is very adult--a large building surrounded by a large parking lot (which Dan's lacks) and the inside is semi-divided into two large rooms. We will still have to walk to the counter to order our food, but the menu offerings are not limited to hamburgers and deserts. And--hold your breath--the food is delivered to your table!

Best of all for Fio is the privacy, the space between tables which will allow Fiorella and her friends to not only exchange confidences, but also talk in their normal voices rather than screeching to be heard over the din.

Fio would never have believed she would switch out of Dan's. Her family's been going there since her middle-aged children were in grade school, and she knows most of the staff by name. Once, one of the guys led all of the customers in singing "Happy birthday" to her, which she still considers to be  one of the highlights of her life, but time and circumstance march on so Fiorella's rondezvous with her friends will now be at the sign of the red and yellow clown.

Wish her well.