Dinner alone is one of life's pleasures.

For the socially timid, the kitchen is the place to be. At least, it is a place to start.

It is often to the wary that the events in life are unexpected. Looser types-people who are not busy weighing and measuring every little thing-are used to accidents, coincidences, chance, things getting out of hand, things sneaking up on them. They are the happy children of life, to whom life happens for better or worse.

When I was alone, I lived on eggplant, the stove top cook's strongest ally.

Both happy and sad people can be cheered up by a nice meal.

Dinner alone is one of life's pleasures.

The sharing of food is the basis of social life, and to many people it is the only kind of social life worth participating in.