I think many people who go out by themselves for a bite to eat like to read a newspaper or a book. It's not uncommon or rude.

I believe it is when people are waiting to sit down.......................

So, it would be okay to have a group be seated, done eating and just talking or finishing their drinks, but not a single person who wanted to finish a chapter?

I don't think the OP said there no tables available, just none that could be easily used by her mother.

(Sorry, missy, this just got under my craw.)

Some people are just completely unaware of what is going on around them. Not that they are rude, they just don't notice. I took my 90 year old grandfather to the aquarium in Charleston. It is a huge place, so we got a wheelchair. I wheeled him from display to display. You wouldn't believe how many people came up and stood right in front of him while he was sitting there in the wheelchair looking at the fish. I want to think they just got so excited about the next display (and boy, they were some fabulous displays) that they just didn't see us. Maybe they were just down right rude, but it sure didn't stop me and Pawpaw Darby from having a grand old time.

Who you be callin missy?

The apology was to missypie, not to you, you ole codger. He he I'm still mad at you. ;-)

:wave:

To say that they just didn't notice your grand dad is no excuse. Should have hit the back of their ankle with the wheelchair and said " Oh I'm sorry " and then smiled.

Tee hee
 

Well, okay, I'll confess . . . I might have done that a time or two. Accidentally, of course. :angel: