You're Uninvited

Don't you hate when you have plans with someone and an uninvited guest shows up and all is ruined? Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of times that uninvited guests are awesome and welcomed. For example, I recently had dinner with a group of friends who I see, or try to see, monthly.  One of my friends brought someone new with her and it was a great addition. Of course, she had talked about the friend to us a lot and us to the friend a lot so it was like we almost knew each other.

That was NOT the case when I met an old friend/work acquaintance for lunch the other day.  I had not seen this person but once briefly in a work capacity in about 8 or 9 years.  So we planned to get together for lunch.  I wanted to catch up on old times and perhaps get some mentoring advice from this person as he is in the same field as me.  Imagine, to my surprise, when I arrive and am told that there will be someone joining us.  It went something like this:

I walk into the restaurant and spot my friend there.  I walk over and say hi. He says hi. It is just the two of us waiting to be seated at this point.  He then says "Do you remember P?"  I affirm that I do when he announces that P will be joining us for lunch because he is "on this side of town" and my friend has to get something from him. Are you kidding me?  I do not know P very well at all. I know OF P, but I do not KNOW P. Could it get more awkward?

So we are seated in a booth for 4 people. Wonder who P is going to sit next to? Ha - he ends up sitting next to my friend. They look like awkward lovers.  That is of little consolation to me. We cannot catch up on old times because my friend is too busy catching P up on who the heck I am. And I cannot very well get any mentoring advice from my friend because I don't want P knowing my business or, worse yet, giving me his own advice. Grr.

That was a wasted two mini burgers event!!