March 2, 2011

By Rusty

Hunger is about a million things even though we mostly talk about lack of food as hunger – Honestly, luckily, I have never been without food – sometimes more and sometimes less – but what food is about to me is to fill other hungers – hunger for friends and family around – hunger for approbation-  hunger for accomplishment – hunger for gaiety in life – hunger for loveliness and art, hunger for giving back – I have satisfied all of those hungers by giving dinner parties – I have given them since I was in college and had an apartment.  I discovered that I could have lots of friends if I fed them – and I was the only one who knew how to cook among my acquaintances – so they would bring the wine and I would provide the spaghetti and sauce. Dinner parties let me make new friends in a new town (I moved often), let me have a sense of accomplishment right then and there instead of waiting a long time – and so on – I don’t give them so much any more – does that mean my other hungers have lessened?  Perhaps, maybe mostly I am chastened by age, and the daunting thought of doing the dishes after dinner for 12.

Best,

Rusty