I took my comfy, maroon seat and decided to have lunch
before I edited our resolution-themed January newsletter. I was convinced that
the passenger across the aisle, we’ll call him “Cruise” was giving me weird looks
as I made my way through the kale salad and multigreen kombhucha I brought with me. I also had a chuckle
as I heard the first café’ order which happened to be a woman ordering a Bud
Light at 11:40am. Maybe her resolution was “drink earlier”.
Throughout the ride passengers, in the car, made phone
calls. It amazes me what people will say knowing full well that not only can
others hear but also that, chances are, they are listening. For a long hour
early on Meyer Weiss announced himself on
his phone. He had one of those rockin’ earpieces and talked about a new CEO,
Japanese markets, and a trip to Mexico… if SNL is casting a dorky, corporate
guy, I’d look this guy up.
Then, the somewhat rough and tumble person across the aisle,
Cruise, took to his phone. First call, I
heard a prescription order and was immediately more interested than I had been
in any of Meyer’s calls. The next call, to whom I now gather was the girlfriend,
first reminded her “you better not be late to the train I’ve been on this thing
since 10 in the damn morning”. Part of me hoped she would never pick him up, at
all, after talking to her like that but I listened on. There was a mention of less booze and more
church. I could’ve sworn I heard something about a cruise and a speedo but
assumed I eavesdropped incorrectly. I heard bits as I was ironically emailing
with Carolyn about a Today segment she was prepping for on…resolutions of
course.
Cruise got up and went into the café, closing the curtain
behind him. He ordered water and then added, to the person taking the order,
“Yeah I’m going on this cruise with my girlfriend, no booze till the cruise man
and that’s not till March.”
“See, I’m wearin’ this speedo, ok so it’s not a speedo but
it’s tight.”
I promise, I tried not to pay attention…impossible.
“My girl" she got me this bathing suit and it was super
tight you see I was a 34 and now I’m like a 38.”
“ I sent her to
return it but she didn’t right away and then it was too late.” “So now I’m
losin’ and eatin’ right and all that shit.”
All I wanted was a photo of Cruise to post here but I wimped
out. I even tried to get a photo via reflection in my window as I feigned
snapping a sunset pic. I turned the flash off and still no good. I’ve written
about “pre beach” and swimsuit slim downs and never, ever would someone like Cruise
be in my mind as my potential audience. And yet, chauvinism and misogyny aside, he has his specific goals, a timeline, means to his "end". With clients I've learned, you can never
know in advance who is going to be determined and succeed and who will not. Or who will order the mid day drink or who wants to slim down. We
don’t know what will cause us to turn things around and whose resolutions will
stick…so we have to try and see.
If you were designing
a café car menu for Amtrak, what would you offer? Do you think men are as
focused on weight as women and just talk about it less? Would you have had the
guts to snap a photo of Cruise? Finally, we have a hashtag email us #ResPledge @Foodtrainers your resolutions and we'll help keep you honest.
Oh lord. Sometimes I wonder how these women find these men!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do think think men are just as focused on weight, but maybe not in the same way (ie: they focus on muscle and being fit, more so than losing weight. But they also care about losing fat...they just don't talk about it because it's "Girly").
I hope that guy looks nasty in his speedo.
This was wildly entertaining!
ReplyDeleteI really do wish the Amtrak car menu was healthier. I always plan to pack a lunch but being such a last-minute planner it never works out. Love your little travel snack bag!
So let's let Amtrak know. i will say, VT to NYC on new years day all items sold out except "healthy snack" parfait. People have to want it, right? Stay tuned for Foodtrainers' snack bag, you are psychic. Great seeing you, sorry it was stressful getting there.
ReplyDeleteA beer before 11:30? I'm trying to get past that. I was not successful.
ReplyDeleteI love traveling by train but here in LA the train goes nowhere useful. In Europe the trains are great and I always grab something at Cafe Nero before I board.
Sorry you wimped out on the pic...I have my own visions though...
let's say speedo or not, he wasn't looking good. Primarily because of how he seemed to treat others...
ReplyDeletemaybe our own visions are best.
ReplyDeleteYeah...that guy could have looked like Johnny Depp and I'd have found him repulsive.
ReplyDeleteI also love traveling by train—it's very meditative and relaxing, somehow—but healthier food options would be nice. I always have to pack lots of snacks. I'm actually kind of surprised Amtrak hasn't outsourced their food service to Starbucks yet.
Interesting point re outsourcing Jess...they can do better. Everything except the food situation is enjoyable. Happy New Year, look forward to meeting.
ReplyDeleteAt a cafe car bar...I would offer SOMETHING healthy (fruit would be nice...salads would be awesome too), I'd even like to see plain Greek yogurt or something along those lines. A few healthy snack bars would be nice too (not faux healthy like Nutri-grain bleck). ha great story! people do surprise you!
ReplyDeleteQuite the entrainment :) you made me smile this morning :)
ReplyDeleteFun story Lauren, and I would have loved to be eavesdropping too (along with traveling back from a ski trip-jealous!) I do think guys get focused on their weight too, but most probably don't talk about it as much as women. I do most of my eavesdropping when I'm getting my hair done :-)
ReplyDeleteLove this story. Men are definitely more focused on weight than people think! Case in point - I'm currently traveling with 2 male colleagues and after dinner last night they lamented about how they needed to work out in the morning to "make up" for our large meal and their general need to lose weight. With that said, I think there is a lot less angst involved when it comes to men. I feel like they have a less emotional stake in losing weight than women. Many of the women I knowseem to have their self esteem / self worth at least a bit tied up in how much they weigh.
ReplyDeleteWell put Kathy, less angst but perhaps as much thought. I think the angst is what does women in with weight and food. If we could be behavior driven, results would improve.
ReplyDeleteooh good stuff to hear at hair salon as we all confess to our stylists/colorists etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad. Sometimes we learn and sometimes important to laugh at how we all are with food/weight.
ReplyDeleteOK let's contact them Erin, I'm ready. Easy fixes. Even better soups/pizza would thrill me (not that I'd eat those).
ReplyDeletei like it <3
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I'm an LSA for Amtrak, and I'd love to hear more opinions on what other people would actually buy in the cafe! Our supervisors are asking for input, and I'm scouring the web looking for what other people have said.
ReplyDelete