I've been in the news business in one form or another for 5+ years. In that time, truly taking time to eat a meal is something that has happened only on a handful of occasions. During my shifts, meals are usually gulped down using one hand, while the other is busy typing a script.
When I was working as a one-man-band in Northern California, my beat was a county at least 30 minutes south and sometimes as far as 2 hours away from the studio. During that time, I was chided plenty of times by the California Highway Patrol for my habit of driving, eating and calling in a story on my cell phone -- all at the same time.
That habit hasn't changed with my move to Hampton Roads. And it's now seeping into the rest of my life.
Just as Pavlov's dog drooled everytime a bell was rung, I physically cannot slow down and eat my food. When I'm out to dinner on one of my days off, I actually have to remind myself that I'm not on deadline.
On those rare nights when I actually have time to sit down with one of our photographers and eat between shooting and editing, they often ask if I'm actually tasting the food I'm shoving down my gullet. At family dinners, the same thing happens. I scarf down food like there's a famine in the land, while the rest of my relatives leisurely pick through their dinner, and I'm left sitting there watching them enjoy their meal and thinking about my hideous table manners.
In our go-go-go, 24-hour society, it's little wonder that I can't slow down. But, it would be nice if I could, it might cut down on my monthly Rolaids bill.
Andria, You forgot to tell your audience that was also the way we ate our meals at home - due to the fact we were always on the run.