My takeout pledge + the new version of “working lunch”
I read that restaurants in the U District are suffering - with business down 70% to 90% - so I made a pledge: I’m going to get takeout there once a week. I chose Thai Tom for next Thursday and counted the days until I’d get my little taste of Bangkok street food - the first time in five months. Thursday came along, and I saw I had meetings at 11 AND noon. OK, I thought, that’s tight but let’s make this happen. If the first meeting ends at 11:30, it can work.
When it got going, co-worker Tom, menschy and no nonsense, was making good time - this Tom was going to make my visit to the other Tom possible. I got antsy when co-workers asked questions. Didn’t they realize I had an order of mouth-watering food waiting? I bailed and jumped into the car, determined to experience this hot-off-the-wok nostalgia again.
My phone’s maps app said I’d be there in 11 minutes, and it was 11:45. The highway went by quick, then blocks of traffic and stop lights lay ahead. When I turned on to the Ave it was 11:57. “Running late, start without me!” I messaged. It’s a new job, but it’s ok to be late to a lunchtime meeting, right? I parked a half-block away and passed by spots that were like old friends - the same, I guess, but without the vibrancy of the good ol’ days.
The guy handed me my order and said “$47 please.” I panicked - it had been so long that I had forgotten the price. Thai Tom is cash-only - did I have that much? I counted my bills and gave a sigh of relief. I had just enough, to the dollar. The green I had from my daughter’s lemonade stand saved me.
I hurried back home, trying to listen to the meeting while dodging the pedestrians that still dotted the streets. I made a quick delivery to my new co-worker and neighbor, who was even newer as a friend. When I finally sat down for the meeting, I couldn’t wait. Everybody else was listening and talking respectfully, seemingly forgetting that it’s lunchtime. I was not that strong. I snuck a bite and watched my face on Zoom slowly chewing the food, fooling myself that it was more discreet.
The pad see ew noodles were firm, not gloppy, greasy or oversauced, with the smoky flavor of the wok. The vegetables were perfectly tender-crisp - soft yet firm enough to reveal sweetness and carmelization. Usually I’m at the counter, eating quickly to free up my spot. Now I took it in slowly, forced by my circumstances to savor it one slow bite at a time.
