Dear waitress,

I feel very strongly about workers in service industries and tipped employees in particular. I'm determined to singlehandedly bust the stereotype about women dining alone that you so obviously held. I understand that a table for one is almost as much work as a table for two. And frankly, I was doing some stereotyping myself about the tipping habits of the women at the next table (granted that stereotype was based as much on their conversation about the price of juice at three different grocery stores, as it was on their age and hairstyles ).

So I hope you were slightly pleasantly surprised that your rudeness didn't make me stiff you. But the next time I walk around the corner to "your" restaurant - alone or with others - I'm going to expect better service.