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I'm Maggie Smith, and this is the slowdown.

There's a very specific pleasure in doing things alone, going to the movies by yourself,

sitting in the dark with your own drink and popcorn or candy that you don't have to share,

and sitting anywhere you want in the theater without asking a companion where they want to sit.

Or having a meal on your own, party of one, just people watching, and enjoying the ambiance without the need to make conversation.

I never did either of those things when I was young.

I'm sure I would have felt uncomfortable being solo in public like that when everyone else had dates or was in groups.

I probably would have worried about appearing friendless, like, what's wrong with her? Now that I'm older, though, I care less about what

strangers think of me. And besides, I travel solo so often these days.

For book events, or to give talks, or to teach.

Many times a year, I find myself alone in another city.

And if I don't have friends to share a meal with while I'm in town,

I order room service or take myself out. A book is plenty to keep me occupied at a restaurant

when I'm by myself, or let's be real, my phone. While I eat, I can half read and half

eavesdrop on the people around me, dates that don't seem to be going well, business meetings

with a lot of corporate jargon,

...