Comments on: Food Writing – Not All About the Food http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/12/17/food-writing-not-all-about-the-food/ Living and loving the freelance life—on your own terms. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: french panic http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/12/17/food-writing-not-all-about-the-food/comment-page-1/#comment-134723 french panic Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:29:52 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=763#comment-134723 I had a similar experience a couple of years ago, when I gave a book I had read and loved to a friend I hadn't seen in a year - we live on opposite sides of the country. Her response was "Why?", which left me completely flustered. Um, because I like you? Because I've been thinking of you and I miss you? I stuttered out something along those lines and apologized "Oh, I'm sorry, have you already read it?" Nope. Her lack of graciousness (manners! etiquette!) left me completely confused - but her reaction ("why?" instead of a "thank you" - huh?), and my reaction (apologizing for giving someone a gift? yikes!) helped me to reassess my friendship priorities.... I haven't heard from her since then, and she hasn't heard from me. I am always surprised when a thoughtful gesture is met with rudeness - it must have been so tempting to want to pluck the home-made brittle from that woman's hands. At least, I wanted to take the book back from my 'friend', but didn't want to make a crappy situation even worse. Oh, the facebook fiends and the recently married couples I would love to send your article to......! I had a similar experience a couple of years ago, when I gave a book I had read and loved to a friend I hadn’t seen in a year – we live on opposite sides of the country. Her response was “Why?”, which left me completely flustered. Um, because I like you? Because I’ve been thinking of you and I miss you? I stuttered out something along those lines and apologized “Oh, I’m sorry, have you already read it?” Nope.

Her lack of graciousness (manners! etiquette!) left me completely confused – but her reaction (“why?” instead of a “thank you” – huh?), and my reaction (apologizing for giving someone a gift? yikes!) helped me to reassess my friendship priorities…. I haven’t heard from her since then, and she hasn’t heard from me. I am always surprised when a thoughtful gesture is met with rudeness – it must have been so tempting to want to pluck the home-made brittle from that woman’s hands. At least, I wanted to take the book back from my ‘friend’, but didn’t want to make a crappy situation even worse.

Oh, the facebook fiends and the recently married couples I would love to send your article to……!

]]> By: megan http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/12/17/food-writing-not-all-about-the-food/comment-page-1/#comment-134256 megan Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:54:56 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=763#comment-134256 Beautifully written. Many thanks for sharing! Beautifully written. Many thanks for sharing!

]]> By: MonicaBhide http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/12/17/food-writing-not-all-about-the-food/comment-page-1/#comment-134250 MonicaBhide Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:17:33 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=763#comment-134250 Thanks so much for all the kind words. I really appreciate it. I think writing about food really extends beyond just recipes and restaurants. Food touches us in so many ways and is a great starting point to discuss many issues as I have done here. Graciousness to me defines a person's spirit. I love being around gracious people - they make me feel rich in friends and lucky. And again, I thank you all for your gracious response here and for all your lovely notes about this piece on your respective blogs and websites. Happy 2009 to you and yours! Thanks so much for all the kind words. I really appreciate it. I think writing about food really extends beyond just recipes and restaurants. Food touches us in so many ways and is a great starting point to discuss many issues as I have done here.

Graciousness to me defines a person’s spirit. I love being around gracious people – they make me feel rich in friends and lucky.

And again, I thank you all for your gracious response here and for all your lovely notes about this piece on your respective blogs and websites.

Happy 2009 to you and yours!

]]> By: Polysyllabic » Blog Archive » Graciousness http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/12/17/food-writing-not-all-about-the-food/comment-page-1/#comment-134247 Polysyllabic » Blog Archive » Graciousness Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:53:48 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=763#comment-134247 [...] I really liked this post, so I thought I would reblog it here. Original link. [...] [...] I really liked this post, so I thought I would reblog it here. Original link. [...]

]]> By: Andy Hayes http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/12/17/food-writing-not-all-about-the-food/comment-page-1/#comment-134232 Andy Hayes Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:02:34 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=763#comment-134232 What a lovely essay - thank you for sharing, Monica. Your talents obviously extend well beyond the kitchen. What a lovely essay – thank you for sharing, Monica. Your talents obviously extend well beyond the kitchen.

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