Dining alone...

Yesterday the wife and I decide to go to Outback for dinner. Tall Foster's and a bloomin' onion! Mmmm. After we had been there awhile we noticed an elderly man sit down at the booth next to us. I thought at first someone else would be joining him, but no one ever came. It made us sad to see him have to eat alone. This was one of those times where family seating would have been a plus. I wonder how often he has to do that? Is it by choice or does he prefer to dine alone? He was dressed up too and wearing a jacket. Older people seem to prefer to dress up when going out. A vestige of times gone by? We used to see an older gentleman all the time by himself when we used to go out for coffee. He was always dressed in a suit jacket. I wonder if there will be a time when I will have to eat alone. Of course statistically women generally outlive their spouses so I am probably safe...