How Many Times Should You Say “Lunch Is Ready”?

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Abstract

e are boarding the flight, boarding is closing in 5 minutes, boarding is completed. Actually, it has become a three-part procedure.When food is ready, I send out the first call: “Lunch is ready!” No replies. Did anyone hear me? Funny, since I don’t live in a castle but in a flat. I lay the table and prepare for call number two. “Lunch is ready!”Then I receive any kind of answers: “Yeah, just a minute”, “Let me finish the book”, “I am coming”. I serve food on the table and make the third and last call. “Lunch is ready!” My voice is suddenly loud and a little angry, I can’t control it.Here they come. “Why are you shouting? I can hear you!” “Let me get my sweater on, it’s cold here.” “Can we drink another bottle of wine? I will go in the wine cellar and get it”.Food is slowly getting cold, which makes it less good and also vanishes some of my efforts to cook it at the right temperature, and we are still waiting for everybody to be sitting at the table. I get angry, and I don’t like it since lunch and dinner are the rare moments in which we are all together.What is my solution to this problem? I have recently decided to change the process since I can’t seem to be able to change the habits of my family members. My actual behavior is: I continue with call one an

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d call two, serve food on the table during call three, sit and eat. I don’t wait for anyone.Funny, I realized I am always eating when the others come to the kitchen. I finish earlier and so I am free to read a page of my book while they slowly take care of the kitchen, clear the table and make coffee.Yet, according to Epicurus, I am leading the life of a lion or a wolf because I eat alone, and I don’t like it (I’d rather be a cat).I might find something else to do while I am waiting, like a little activity in the kitchen. I might adapt to my family's slow reactions, or keep a book next to me and read a few pages while waiting — or better, an article on Medium. Should I even consider the fourth call?If there is someone in your life who cooks for you, keep in mind that she is giving you her time and energy, so please give value to her efforts and try to react at least at the second call!Thank you <a href="undefined">Trista Signe Ainsworth</a> for writing about the pleasure of cooking, and reminding me about the importance of food as a connection with other people.Did you enjoy this article?Become a <a href="https://lucia-landini.medium.com/">Medium Member</a> to have full access to my content. Thank you!</article></body>

Last call for lunch!

We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink, for dining alone is leading the life of a lion or wolf.

Epicurus

What happens in your family when lunch is ready? I think there are a lot of interesting reactions, which have to do with habits and with the personality of the family members.

At home, I am the one who cooks most of the time. While I prepare the meal, everybody is busy with other things: some help the family by cleaning up a room, others nourish personal hobbies, like reading. I like that part of the day, I like spending time in my kitchen, and I enjoy preparing food, even if I am not a very good cook.

The messages I send out to my family when lunch is ready reminds me of airport calls, when an airplane is ready to welcome the passengers onboard: we are boarding the flight, boarding is closing in 5 minutes, boarding is completed. Actually, it has become a three-part procedure.

When food is ready, I send out the first call: “Lunch is ready!” No replies. Did anyone hear me? Funny, since I don’t live in a castle but in a flat. I lay the table and prepare for call number two. “Lunch is ready!”

Then I receive any kind of answers: “Yeah, just a minute”, “Let me finish the book”, “I am coming”. I serve food on the table and make the third and last call. “Lunch is ready!” My voice is suddenly loud and a little angry, I can’t control it.

Here they come. “Why are you shouting? I can hear you!” “Let me get my sweater on, it’s cold here.” “Can we drink another bottle of wine? I will go in the wine cellar and get it”.

Food is slowly getting cold, which makes it less good and also vanishes some of my efforts to cook it at the right temperature, and we are still waiting for everybody to be sitting at the table. I get angry, and I don’t like it since lunch and dinner are the rare moments in which we are all together.

What is my solution to this problem? I have recently decided to change the process since I can’t seem to be able to change the habits of my family members. My actual behavior is: I continue with call one and call two, serve food on the table during call three, sit and eat. I don’t wait for anyone.

Funny, I realized I am always eating when the others come to the kitchen. I finish earlier and so I am free to read a page of my book while they slowly take care of the kitchen, clear the table and make coffee.

Yet, according to Epicurus, I am leading the life of a lion or a wolf because I eat alone, and I don’t like it (I’d rather be a cat).

I might find something else to do while I am waiting, like a little activity in the kitchen. I might adapt to my family's slow reactions, or keep a book next to me and read a few pages while waiting — or better, an article on Medium. Should I even consider the fourth call?

If there is someone in your life who cooks for you, keep in mind that she is giving you her time and energy, so please give value to her efforts and try to react at least at the second call!

Thank you Trista Signe Ainsworth for writing about the pleasure of cooking, and reminding me about the importance of food as a connection with other people.

Did you enjoy this article?

Become a Medium Member to have full access to my content. Thank you!