I sat alone for lunch the other day with no one’s company but my own. 

Actually, I lie.  I was with my iPhone. 

I understand my iPhone isn’t an actual person.  I know it doesn’t talk back to me, or laugh at my jokes, or even hold my purse when I’m in the bathroom.  But it keeps me occupied in a crowded room when I don’t want to feel alone… or bored. 

So I hop on Facebook and see what my friends are up to.  I check my Twitter timeline to @reply someone because I know I’m  not the only one out there by herself on lunch, and maybe our Twitter convo could make one less lonely girl.  I YouTube so I can laugh at this fake person on the internet because the sound of my own laughter, albeit solo, is better than the sound of no laughter at all.  

I realize my iPhone can’t give me an opinion on what to order.  And it definitely won’t pick up the check.   But it’s The Great Pretender when I want to look like I’m important — just furiously start typing into the screen like I’m answering an important email or texting back about 10 friends.   I can make plans to not be alone for lunch tomorrow or even for dinner tonight so this “hanging out with my iPhone” doesn’t happen again. 

Yeah, I look busy but I promise, I’m sooooooo not.  Matter fact, I think I’m going to start taking solo lunches without it.  I think I’d rather be alone in my own company because contrary to popular belief, there is no app for that. 

It’s not that I don’t love my iPhone.  It’s just that, I understand that it doesn’t love me back.   And I don’t need to be hanging out with anyone or anything that doesn’t love me… I need all the love I can get. 

((Just as I published this, I caught my soulmate’s last blog entry.  Please read it.  Because  “lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless, and lonely is healing if you make it.”))