I’ve been invited to a birthday get together for a new ish friend. In fact, pretty much my only friend I have since I moved across the country a few years ago, which is why I am probably over thinking this.
It’s a bottomless brunch next Saturday. Snags are, I am coeliac and I don’t drink alcohol.
I contacted the restaurant. Nothing on the bottomless brunch set menu is gluten free, so I will have to order and pay separately from the gluten free menu - but they can’t guarantee that there is no cross contamination and looking on some reviews, people have got ill after eating there.
I get really, really ill with any tiny bit of cross contamination, so if I ever do get invited out, I don’t eat because it’s just not worth it. This makes people very uncomfortable even if I explain to to death, “oh a little bit won’t hurt!”, (it really will!), so in the past, I’ve ordered something and just moved food around the plate and no one has ever realised I’ve not eaten. Apart from being accused of having an eating disorder a couple of times, people don’t seem to understand how ill gluten makes me and that it’s just not worth days of feeling ill for one meal.
Also, alcohol. I don’t drink at all. I also don’t eat sugar so things like virgin cocktails are out (no,
I am not fun at parties).
I really want to go. I’ve met her group of friends before and they all seem lovely and I am so bone achingly lonely since moving here.
I just don’t want to be seen as some
massive weirdo sipping water and not eating. I am so used to it and it’s fine.
Plus, we are all paying into the brunch to cover the cost of my friend. If I do order from the GF menu, it’s not included and I will have to pay extra - which is fine! I really don’t mind, it’s par for the course. But I don’t want anyone to find out and make a deal of that or feel bad in anyway.
I know this is a non event by the way, roll those eyes away! My anxiety over something that logically I know doesn’t really matter is part of a way bigger picture.