From the first day of grade school, lunchtime is an integral part of the day.
Children worry about what kind of lunchbox to bring, who to sit with in the cafeteria and whether to pack or buy a hot meal. Our movies and TV shows mercilessly focus on lunchroom drama, with tables segregated by stereotypical nerds, jocks and delinquents engaging in food fights or rock concerts. Eventually, most kids learn to navigate the cafeteria and actually enjoy the mindless chatter and break from classes.
Upon entering the working world, employees truly realize the benefits of an hour away from the office. If you have a desk job, walking outside in the fresh air could be your only chance for mild physical activity as well as a mental break. Some winter days when I worked in New York City, I took the subway downtown while it was still dark, walked through a tunnel to my office building, took the elevator up to the
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floor, ate at my desk and took the subway home in the dark without ever seeing daylight. Those days were depressing, so I made a concerted effort to step outdoors during the precious lunch hour.
Some days I’d venture out with a friend and try a new Korean or Ethiopian restaurant. Other days, I’d visit the soup guy on the corner, order a bowl of creamy broccoli, and sit outside by the World Trade Towers watching the throngs of people go by. The break in the day recharged my emotional batteries and gave me a chance to experience more of my New York environment.
And then came motherhood. We moved to Dublin in 1996 with a toddler and a baby on the way, and lunchtime consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or an occasional McDonald’s cheeseburger. My neighbors congregated for many mid-day meals at local restaurants and I longed to join them, but daytime babysitters were hard to find. In 2000, when I had my third child, the older two were in school, so I started bringing the baby with me to some Friday lunches. My daughter and I loved this time together and we continued this routine even as she entered preschool. My friends teased that I’d never be able to get Catie to attend school on Fridays because she was used to her “mommy and me” lunches. Catie went to elementary school every day, though, and I joined her for an occasional noon snack in her cafeteria instead of going out.
Now I can eat out most days since I make my own work hours. It’s the calmer part of the day as opposed to evenings when I race children to their school events, practices and meetings, and still fit in homework and dinner. Sometimes, my husband, Tony, and I will meet for lunch to catch up, since it’s the only quiet adult time we can find. Other days, I will invite a friend who needs to get out of the house. I recently dined with my friend, Kelley Megahan, at J. Liu. Kelley’s kitchen is under construction, and I knew she could use a nice meal out. A few weeks ago, Dublin Life editor Gail Martineau joined me at Salvi’s Bistro to talk about upcoming story ideas for the magazine. It was a great way to catch up and a prime atmosphere for a business lunch.
And sometimes, I have a mid-day snack alone, running errands or Skyping a friend. The other day, I picked up the hot rib appetizer from Montgomery Inn, and my best friend, who moved from Dublin to Scottsdale, Ariz., six years ago, watched me dip the ribs into the tangy sauce over our video connection as we laughed and caught up on the banalities of life.
Yes, lunches definitely have changed over the years.
-CD
Write With Me!
Thinking of a New Year’s Resolution for 2012?
I am bringing back the art of letter writing, and I vow to write one letter per week to different individuals who have made a difference in my life, big or small. No more excuses, just write that “thank you” note, or jot down some memories and reach out with a letter. Write and tell me that you will join my quest with a New Year’s Resolution, and I will include the participants in the February and December issues of Dublin Life Magazine in 2012. Please describe your resolution and how you’re going to go about achieving it.
Send your letter to:
Colleen D’Angelo
781 Northwest Blvd., Ste. 202
Columbus, OH 43212