Here’s an interesting cultural experience for you: Go to a downtown Denny’s at 8 O’clock on Christmas Eve. For one, the place is packed like a glistening oasis of food-serving establishment in a vast desert of unlit “open signs”. Quite a cross section of humanity. Multi-generational families in suits and their Sunday best, fresh out of a candle-lit service somewhere. Tables of young punks skipping out on family gatherings. Sullen young couples. A gigantic, brooding African man who’s been sitting alone staring at the wall for the last 15 minutes. The guy across from me with a coffee, a newspaper, and a hospital band on his wrist. Guy with a beer and a cellphone, texting away and looking forlorn. Missing someone. One manic waitress, repeating “I quit” over and over in her head. So many stories. Why are the Young couples sullen? Its Christmas eve, and he took her to Denny’s. You do the math. We all have our reasons for being here.