Dating myself

Last night I took myself out on a solo date. Living in this neon jungle I always look forward to nights out with friends but I also kind of revel in my own loneliness some nights. This is not a throat-clenching loneliness that comes from a long day at the Kaisha, nor the startling feeling of desperation upon discovering there are no close lady friends to talk to. This loneliness is a little exciting - discovering that I am on my own time, with no agenda, I walk down the street both anonymously and conspicuously. And no one knows where I am. The sad alone times I can do without, but this is an exhilarating feeling to know that I can move through the city completely alone and decide to rejoin civilization when I feel ready again. I guess camping does this for some people.

One of my favourite solo date nights is to visit the used English bookstore in Takadanobaba to pick up a few books before heading across the street to Malabar, home of the lushest nan bread in Tokyo that when dipped in curry rivals chocolate for me. I sit there thumbing through my new-used books and dipping bread and when I'm done I'll wander the neighbourhood before having tea time at St. Marc Cafe, where it is absolutely impossible not to order one of their Choco Cro ("choko kuro"), or chocolate croissant. The chocolate starts to slip out the end of the heavy pastry as you work on it and is really something to behold. You can't run away from the choko kuro, I have tried. I would be hard pressed to choose between a nan & curry and a choko kuro, so I don't - it's date night.