Welcome to Bowlero Lounge!

I had an interview Monday for an admin job in Royal Oak. I spent most of yesterday running an errand for my son, my time got cut close, so he ended up taking me to the interview and dropping me off. (Plus I still don't have a car so I'm a little more dependent upon others.) He still had an errand to run and thought I would be tied up longer than the 12 minutes I actually spent interviewing. (12 minutes may not have been enough time for her to evaluate me, but it definitely was enough time for me to know that I wouldn't want to work there!) We were to meet at the McDonald's Jr. said was at the end of the street.

So I leave the interview, walk down the street, and lo and behold, no McDonald's!
Me (on phone to Jr.): There's no McD's here.
Jr.: Oops! (I know he said this with a smile.) I guess it's about a mile down the road.
Me: How long until you get here? (It was about 90 outside.)
Jr.: I'm not sure.
Me: Well, I'm going to the bowling alley across the street to wait.

Which brings me to the Bowlero...The bowling alley lounge was air conditioned, and surprisingly crowded. All regulars. And me (who was referred to as new girl.) I felt like I took a step back about 20 years, when I wouldn't think it a bad thing to sit on a bar stool for a bit and talk to strangers who I would think of as friends. But a lot has changed for me.

It was quite an odd experience. I ordered a diet coke. I was introduced to the barmaid and the regulars sitting at the bar. And introduced to everyone else as they came into the bar. Every person knew every other person. It was like a little family. I was sung to. Really. Two of the regulars sang me 'Welcome to Bowlero' sung to a familiar tune that I can't remember now. I found them to be very friendly. But also a little sad.

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking fondly of how the people at that bar were their own community. And we all need a community. We all need to belong to something. But then I re-read the texts I sent to Jr. before he finally came to get me. They tell a different story...
"OMG come soon!"
"Ghetto with a capital G"
"Call me when you get here."
I guess I need to work on not being judgmental...