Friday, January 29, 2010

Eating Out Group

Eating Out Group is in shock: A founding member has died. When she missed the November lunch, no one had the courage to call. In December her husband sent word. Our January luncheon (Michelin starred Honda) in Shibuya was a tribute to our dear eating companion, an English prof who studied at the University of London and attended her son's wedding in May. She was only arou kan (around 60). We looked at photos from lunches past.

"Do you like to eat lunch?" S-san inquired two years ago. There is just one answer that I know to this question: Hai. In this casual way six sophisticated Japanese ladies invited me to a monthly Eating Out Group program. Each had lived abroad; one studied piano at Juilliard. Coincidence that the other gaijin in the group was Wanda from Toronto, the best neighbor in the world?
Foodies know that this town boasts more Michelin stars than New York and Paris combined. Lunch sets (aka prix fixe) are an amazing value, still. Eating Out members take turns choosing the venue. After a year the group gave me a go; I passed muster. Last January S-san asked, "Did you win anything in the New Year's sweepstakes?"(Japanese New Year's cards --not holiday ones--have lottery numbers that qualify for prizes from the Post Office.) When I didn't, S-san passed along a prize to me. Now it is a legacy of our connection.

"In the US we would send a card to her family," I said. The eldest E.O.G. member pulled a selection of condolence notes from her purse: "Will you write it in English?" Eating Out Group instructed me to write a note to S-san to be placed at her grave. It was the first time I intentionally wrote a letter to a deceased friend. "With memories of 14 years of lunches, we miss you and will always remember you." I-san said, "I will never delete the last e-mail she sent. Don't you feel she is with us now?"

Perhaps she will attend Sudoku Fun Day,too.

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