I saw something that made me really sad on Saturday, and much as I tried to let it go it still bothers me.

I’m currently training for a marathon and as part of my training plan, Saturdays are long run days.   When I was training last year I discovered quite by accident that Chipotle is a super food.  Particularly the carnitas bowl with brown rice, pinto beans and, well, this isn’t about Chipotle, or even marathon training for that matter.  I was at Chipotle as my Saturday, long run reward.  Anyway…

I’m about sixth or seventh in line and I observed this guy who was maybe late twenties or early thirties at most, having lunch with his daughter who was about four or five years old.  She was very cute, in a little black and white dress.  She was moving around in her seat, turning around looking at customers who were going through the line, then turning  back and saying something to her dad, then turning again and looking and saying something to the people sitting at the table next to her.  She was all curiosity and activity and smiles.  And I would like to have smiled about that but it was too sad a scene to enjoy.

The entire time I was in line observing them, her dad never once looked up from his phone.  Didn’t say anything, didn’t look at her, didn’t respond to anything she said.  It was heartbreaking.   It’s so sad that I can’t even make my usual snarky, foul-mouthed comments.  Just doesn’t seem appropriate.

There’s a girl with her dad, or maybe it was a big brother little sister situation, though that would be a really big age gap.  Either way it’s such a lost opportunity to enjoy a shared experience.  How could anything on that guys phone be more important or even a fraction as interesting as sitting there with his daughter sharing a meal?  And for her, is this what she learns a lunch date with dad is supposed to be?  It could’ve been so much more.

Please people, put the phones away and reengage with the world around you.  You’re missing out.