The minister doesn’t need to know that sometimes I create invite lists on the church program while listening to the sermon. When I’m sitting in a quiet place, a plethora of names pops into my mind. I “day dream” about engaged conversation around the table with a few or many friends. Although I’m constantly organizing … Read more
When my children were younger one of my pet peeves was how they sat at the table. I mean, specifically, how they sat in their chairs. They were expected to “sit correctly” meaning that their bottoms were centered on the seat: no slouching. “Put your napkin on your lap”, “sit up straight”, “put your knife … Read more
Ready, set, action! Jay and I were at the altar. We were exchanging our marriage vows. In the middle of the exchange, Jay paused. Or did he? My eyes widened. Panic set in. Had Jay forgotten what to say? Although they’re an important part of interacting with others, pauses in conversation sometimes cause discomfort. This … Read more
My anxiety increases in the morning when I’m late starting my “to do’s”. The business list feels massive. Non-work demands fight for attention as well: book my daughter’s flight home, send the invitation copy for my niece’s wedding lunch, RSVP to the school event whose information is buried somewhere amidst the digital correspondence. No wonder … Read more
It had been awhile- almost 15 years actually, since I had seen my good friend from high school. I wondered what to talk about after so much time. How might it be possible to understand even a glimmer of her life’s journey? I took out my little purple sticky notes, quietly considered my friend and … Read more
Last minute details can derail us. Corporate dinners, for example, require us to know who needs to be recognized, decide who sits next to whom, and offer an appropriate toast or a few short words of gratitude. Similarly at home we scurry around the kitchen to finish meal preparations. Do we really need that sprig … Read more
Often we become caught up in meal preparations, a “fancy” table, and too many logistics. We let a busy corporate culture dissuade us from creating meaningful social time with co-workers. For some, organizing details derails us and we postpone entertaining all together. For others, we don’t extend an invitation because hosting appears cost prohibitive or … Read more
Although some consider me an extrovert, over the years I’ve become more introverted. That’s not to say “I want to be alone” is an everyday refrain. Quiet is just difficult to find in our digitally loud world. Perhaps almost more challenging is walking into a room full of people we don’t know, strangers. Small talk … Read more
Or, Where’s the Dark Chocolate Sea-Salted Caramel? I found a really good book today and bought it on impulse, 1000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton! What fun to peruse and discover the world through my stomach! I started glancing at some of the suggestions of the “must eat’s”: Boston Baked Beans, … Read more
More than once, A Table In Time dinner guests have commented that they’re unsure how to pick engaging conversation topics for their gatherings. Although this list only scratches the surface, here’s “what we might talk about” in January! New beginnings– it’s not too late to make some adjustments to how you want to live your … Read more