Ahhh, a fellow foodie. When I find someone like you at gatherings, we bond immediately, go on for hours, and ignoring the slightly crazed smiles of our escorts. Yes, the James Beard Foundation is on West 12th street in Greenwich Village. When I worked there it was early in its development and although well on its way, not nearly the mega-power it is today in the food industry. But it was fun and exciting. To me the chefs I worked with were rock stars, and I fawned over them happily. I worked with all the famous ones: Julia Child, Madeleine Kamen, The Two Hot Tamales, and others who no longer are so well known. The one thing I know for sure about the vast majority of celebrities in the food world, is they are big-hearted, fun loving, and incredibly hard working. (I’m including myself of course. LOL) Thanks for noticing the avatar - I searched a long time for one I felt represented me.

Sure Linda, I’d be happy to. But instead of boring this issue focused community, if you supply your email address I’ll help all I can.

3 Favs: 1. VP of a medical marketing agency traveling the country interviewing, and training women to re-enter the job force after child bearing or rearing. 2. Administrative Director of the James Beard Foundation, arranging for Chefs from all over the world to come and create culinary masterpieces for the membership. 3. Caterer and theme-party planner. I need 10 pages for this one!!!

Frank: Congratulations! You’ve deserved to be recognized on these pages, many times over. It’s so nice to have a wise virtual friend whose sage comments are always right on target.

Mark: You should consider moving to China. Think of how happy you’ll be as you help dump newborn baby girls into the river. Do you have any women as patients? Heaven help them!

What are you talking about, Danny? I watch Whoopi regularly on The View and never once have heard her say anything except, we need to elect the person who will best serve the country. (Okay, I’ll admit her face is an open book - but even so, never showing malice.) She has bent over backwards to be fair, praising and criticizing all the candidates as warranted. I’d be very interested in hearing what exactly you feel she has said that warrants such venom and disrespect.

Poor Hillary - she has CampaignSpeechIdis. After 30 yrs. of touting Clinton attributes she opens her mouth and out it flows. Give her a break. She’s trying to learn the difference between concede and contribute!

Renata: I have tremendous respect for your intelligence and your passion. I totally agree with TS, however and beg you to follow her advise. In my youth, I was hell bent on making my point - especially when I felt strongly about something, in the loudest volume possible. Until one day a combatant calmly said to me: All I hear is your yelling, I have no idea what you are trying to tell me. I know you’re fighting for something you believe with your heart and soul, don’t drown out the message by being too loud to be heard. BTW:Congratulations to you and your entire community for this stunningly historical moment.

Yes to Recount. Although I felt sick to my stomach, victimized and helpless and angry, I think it’s something everyone should see. As a matter of fact, I would love to see “Question of the Day” address this movie. We could all wrap our minds in boxing gloves and have a go at it.

Happy birthday to you… happy birthday to you happy birthday, dear Dona happy birthday to you.

Frannie: This probably feels like the longest 30 hours of your life. I suspect that your family is in the prayers of many in this community. You’re definitely in mine. Now your job is to listen carefully to evaluate how much loving and how much letting go you need to do in the coming weeks? months? years? From the little I see of you in these posts, I think this is a pretty lucky guy to have a Mom like you to come home to. Zee

Thanks, Frannie - but don’t encourage me - I could go on forever. I am in the process of writing a book however, and I’m sure there will be a chapter called something like “Always a Caterer, Never a Bride.” Many of the stories will be written there. I’ll let you know should it ever be accepted for publishing. Your copy will be on me.

M S: Take it easy. This is just a friendly conversation. Nobody is judging anybody. As far as “Why?”, I for one find the comments posted by the extraordinary women on this site fascinating. I’m glad for any opportunity to know them better. Sometimes the questions are rather personal, but look at the lively discussions they engender. I find this about as safe a place as any to let your hair down. Jump in, it’s fun.

Josie: I relate to this post so much that I am typing through tears. You didn’t deserve it, sweetheart - none of it! That you had the strength to survive and become who you are today is the miracle you have been searching for. I love your posts, they are well written, uplifting, and intelligent. I am proud to know you.

I’m a caterer so I’ve attended more weddings than I can remember, especially in the month of June when 3-5 a weekend is not unusual. I’ve seen every kind of wedding there is. The ones where the joining families love each other, hate each other, tolerate one another - or don’t care about anything except who’s paying for what. I have dozens of wedding stories that will make you cry, or laugh hysterically. But since I just took an enormous amount of space on the Change of Religion question I’m going to stay brief here. The one observation I’ve made is, it is the rare couple who put as much time and energy into the marriage as they do the wedding.