My most memorable lunches were with my Dad, when he was incarcerated in the hospital after a major heart attack. The doctors knew he would go back to over-doing if they let him out of their sight, so he had to stay longer than the typical patient. Fortunately, we worked for the same company (in the same building, even!) in those days and that building was just a few miles from the hospital. So every day when the official lunch-period started I got in my car, and over to the hospital I went. For the next few hours, my Dad (who was feeling better and bored as all get out) regaled me with stories from his childhood and youth, while trying to get me to eat as much of his hospital lunch as he could force on me. He was a terrific storyteller: evocative, discursive and often hilarious. I am the third of ten children, so you can only imagine how much I prized that very rare one-on-one time. I heard more of my Dad's stories than most of the rest of my siblings (and Mom) put together. And I spent more time just with him that I had during my entire childhood. What a privilege it was... something I will never, ever forget. To their everlasting credit, my bosses (some of whom had worked with my Dad for 25 years) never said a word when I wandered back to my desk at 3:00.
I haven't realized how far removed I am from the well done lunch until reading this and subsequently understanding its importance. To tell you the truth, I've gotten used to eating alone. It's time to go back to the 3 Cs.
I especially liked the line “Crap lunch can be ended”. Lunch in a school staffroom is an interesting beast. People come and go according to their playground duties, whether or not they want to eat somewhere else, etc. It's an Adventist school, and typically we have several big staff luncheons/dinners per year. Sometimes on our pupil-free days lunch takes a while. I do appreciate it.
Card carrying member of the minority who have heard of the word commensality here, and I was somewhat startled when I saw it here. The topic of my final year project for my CS degree (basically a thesis) was the impact of Human Computer Interaction on Commensality.
I ended up spending months researching the topic, and re-progamming a robot kids toy to fulfil the role of an eating companion, then attempting to use that robot to influence the food choices of our participants (quite successfully). Edited versions of the paper have now been published twice in scientific journals, indicating that either I am as brilliant as I always imagined myself to be (Law of attraction?) or the topic is an incredibly relevant one in 2020 (much more likely).
Researching for the project showed me exactly how dire our dining habits have become, with the vast majority of the younger demographic preferring to eat their meals in the company of Netflix, Youtube or an iPhone instead of other people. I'm 24, and it's insane to me how many of my friends do this, some even sitting with eachother in front of a tv or laptop to watch something while they eat. I'm old enough to remember there being a stigma about eating in front of the TV, but that seems to be a thing of the past.
This is worrying and somewhat sad, of course, but our project was aimed at solving the problem of providing companionship for those who have a desire for dining companions, but had no means of doing so - the elderly, those who had recently moved abroad, or those who simply struggled socially and had no friends or family they were close enough to.
It's a tough one. There's a part of me, the part that feels as though sex robots may very well mean the end of civilization, that feels as though developing robot companions like these may well push us further apart and break us apart into even more insular, individual units, lacking any sense of community.
Then there's the other part of me that feels as though technology could be used here to solve a very real problem, that current trends in society indicate won't be solved by itself - based on the research I did for the project it's only getting worse. Given my conflicted feelings about it, I naturally am headed far away from any research fields.
Anyway, somewhat lengthy personal story aside, loved the article. There are few things more pleasurable than posting up in a cafe in a busy part of the city either alone or with friends and spending the afternoon eating, drinking coffee and just existing, without really caring about time or work, or any of that other nonsense we spend so much time worrying about.
You painted a picture of exactly what we need most these days and in these times. TO slow down, simply enjoy being present, even when alone. I have scheduled a lunch this coming week with 2 friends, we will make it long, relaxed and luxurious. Thank you for this!
Your best so far. imo, then. Loved the wisdom behind the concepts. How lunch is like freedom and a mindset. And the, breaking free from rat race. Then cigars and champagne, nibbas its what i would do. And I resonated with the breakdown of what a proper lunch is. Basically, practically, boiled down by being a bloody tourist. When I travel I have all the fun in the world, eating at all kinds of places, and even tip. Where I'm from I don't do this usually, but sometimes with a cigar in hand, and journal in place, i try weirdass drinks, reminding me of my practices on travel. The breakdown of proper lunch made me realize I've never broken down precisely why travel is so much more fun. Being free it is. hooa.
I really enjoy that you focus so much of your writing on living as a human being rather than as a human doing. I know I've got a lot of progress to make on that front. Regardless, thank you for your writing and enhancement of my vocabulary.
Thomas, your newsletter is great. So is its format and its writing. Where do you get such thinkpieces from? I already subscribed it around a month ago. I am very much impressed with the two or three issues I received until now. I have a query, Just as every other creator you have every right to monetize your creation and your writing. Even so do you plan to post daily for premium and keep the Sunday format regular?(just a suggestion). Last but not the least can you tell about people such as you whose work I should check out?
Definitely had to look up commensality. Proper lunches have definitely been missing in my own life lately which makes me a little sad. Thank you for the reminder to slow down and to be kind even to oneself with lunching well.
My most memorable lunches were with my Dad, when he was incarcerated in the hospital after a major heart attack. The doctors knew he would go back to over-doing if they let him out of their sight, so he had to stay longer than the typical patient. Fortunately, we worked for the same company (in the same building, even!) in those days and that building was just a few miles from the hospital. So every day when the official lunch-period started I got in my car, and over to the hospital I went. For the next few hours, my Dad (who was feeling better and bored as all get out) regaled me with stories from his childhood and youth, while trying to get me to eat as much of his hospital lunch as he could force on me. He was a terrific storyteller: evocative, discursive and often hilarious. I am the third of ten children, so you can only imagine how much I prized that very rare one-on-one time. I heard more of my Dad's stories than most of the rest of my siblings (and Mom) put together. And I spent more time just with him that I had during my entire childhood. What a privilege it was... something I will never, ever forget. To their everlasting credit, my bosses (some of whom had worked with my Dad for 25 years) never said a word when I wandered back to my desk at 3:00.
Love this! The line "Like Edward Hopper paintings but with iPhones and worse clothes" is the best thing I've read all week. Subscribed :)
Loved reading this. How do I subscribe to your newsletter on my email id: marcomrubix@gmail.com
I haven't realized how far removed I am from the well done lunch until reading this and subsequently understanding its importance. To tell you the truth, I've gotten used to eating alone. It's time to go back to the 3 Cs.
I especially liked the line “Crap lunch can be ended”. Lunch in a school staffroom is an interesting beast. People come and go according to their playground duties, whether or not they want to eat somewhere else, etc. It's an Adventist school, and typically we have several big staff luncheons/dinners per year. Sometimes on our pupil-free days lunch takes a while. I do appreciate it.
Card carrying member of the minority who have heard of the word commensality here, and I was somewhat startled when I saw it here. The topic of my final year project for my CS degree (basically a thesis) was the impact of Human Computer Interaction on Commensality.
I ended up spending months researching the topic, and re-progamming a robot kids toy to fulfil the role of an eating companion, then attempting to use that robot to influence the food choices of our participants (quite successfully). Edited versions of the paper have now been published twice in scientific journals, indicating that either I am as brilliant as I always imagined myself to be (Law of attraction?) or the topic is an incredibly relevant one in 2020 (much more likely).
Researching for the project showed me exactly how dire our dining habits have become, with the vast majority of the younger demographic preferring to eat their meals in the company of Netflix, Youtube or an iPhone instead of other people. I'm 24, and it's insane to me how many of my friends do this, some even sitting with eachother in front of a tv or laptop to watch something while they eat. I'm old enough to remember there being a stigma about eating in front of the TV, but that seems to be a thing of the past.
This is worrying and somewhat sad, of course, but our project was aimed at solving the problem of providing companionship for those who have a desire for dining companions, but had no means of doing so - the elderly, those who had recently moved abroad, or those who simply struggled socially and had no friends or family they were close enough to.
It's a tough one. There's a part of me, the part that feels as though sex robots may very well mean the end of civilization, that feels as though developing robot companions like these may well push us further apart and break us apart into even more insular, individual units, lacking any sense of community.
Then there's the other part of me that feels as though technology could be used here to solve a very real problem, that current trends in society indicate won't be solved by itself - based on the research I did for the project it's only getting worse. Given my conflicted feelings about it, I naturally am headed far away from any research fields.
Anyway, somewhat lengthy personal story aside, loved the article. There are few things more pleasurable than posting up in a cafe in a busy part of the city either alone or with friends and spending the afternoon eating, drinking coffee and just existing, without really caring about time or work, or any of that other nonsense we spend so much time worrying about.
Looking forward to the next one, of course.
You painted a picture of exactly what we need most these days and in these times. TO slow down, simply enjoy being present, even when alone. I have scheduled a lunch this coming week with 2 friends, we will make it long, relaxed and luxurious. Thank you for this!
Your best so far. imo, then. Loved the wisdom behind the concepts. How lunch is like freedom and a mindset. And the, breaking free from rat race. Then cigars and champagne, nibbas its what i would do. And I resonated with the breakdown of what a proper lunch is. Basically, practically, boiled down by being a bloody tourist. When I travel I have all the fun in the world, eating at all kinds of places, and even tip. Where I'm from I don't do this usually, but sometimes with a cigar in hand, and journal in place, i try weirdass drinks, reminding me of my practices on travel. The breakdown of proper lunch made me realize I've never broken down precisely why travel is so much more fun. Being free it is. hooa.
I really enjoy that you focus so much of your writing on living as a human being rather than as a human doing. I know I've got a lot of progress to make on that front. Regardless, thank you for your writing and enhancement of my vocabulary.
Thomas, your newsletter is great. So is its format and its writing. Where do you get such thinkpieces from? I already subscribed it around a month ago. I am very much impressed with the two or three issues I received until now. I have a query, Just as every other creator you have every right to monetize your creation and your writing. Even so do you plan to post daily for premium and keep the Sunday format regular?(just a suggestion). Last but not the least can you tell about people such as you whose work I should check out?
Definitely had to look up commensality. Proper lunches have definitely been missing in my own life lately which makes me a little sad. Thank you for the reminder to slow down and to be kind even to oneself with lunching well.