In Praise of Conviviality: Bloggers’ Lunch Report

The bloggers’ lunch was great fun. I really enjoyed meeting blog brothers from around the world. It is a bit of a mafia by now, in the best sense of the word. I recognized Chris Tilling right off, from the back of his head. Boss Tweed was a polite and unassuming person in person, just as I had imagined.

We were a group of almost 25 around a very long table. That sparked the curiosity of a nearby table, who called me over for elucidation. It was a table of four AAR convention-goers, all of them budding feminist scholars, but not a dour face among them (I’m going to catch hell for that qualification, but this is a blog after all). I expressed my grief over the loss of Letty Russell (one of them knew who I was talking about) before explaining to them that we were a group of Bible bloggers. They were bemused by this, but asked why we were all of the same and opposite sex. I made some lame remark about how some of my favorite bloggers have names like Suzanne, Angie, Ros, Molley, and Jenelle, but the fact is, they weren’t there. Schade.

Comments

[Suzanne]

I hope I would not contribute a dour face either.

[Ros]

Me either! Sorry not to have been there - sounds like fun.

[J. K. Gayle]

And would the "blog brothers from around the world" ever think of themselves as "feminists" whether "budding" or "scholars" or "happy faced" or otherwise?

25 (or 6) to 4, sounds one of the songs on the Chicago II album.

[Esteban Vázquez]

So, what you're saying to eligible male bloggers out there who hope to meet a brilliant female blogger for friendship, long walks on the beach, fine dining, and exciting scholarly discussion is that the Bloggers' Lunch is not anymore the place to go for that than, say, a Dungeons and Dragons game in your parents' basement on a Friday night? ;-)

[Lingamish]

I'd enjoy an intimate lunch with feminists but expect they would not welcome me at their table.

[J. K. Gayle]

If one boy-cotts, well that's some great expectations indeed, Lingamish. Would slavery abolitionists also refuse to break bread with you? (Sorry, John, to hijack the comments here, but how difficult is it not be a feminist?)

[Kevin P. Edgecomb]

I would've caught up with you down there but I was only in San Diego for part of the day Monday, the two "Functions of Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphal Writings in Early Judaism and Early Christianity Consultation" (whew) sessions (which I'll post on tomorrow, once my head cold is a thing of the past), and a lunch between them with James Charlesworth, Lee McDonald, Craig Evans and a swathe of other folks (the consultation's steering committee and guests) that it was an absolute delight to spend time with. I did pop over to the book fair and meet James Spinti at last, and got Albert Pietersma and Ben Wright to sign my copy of NETS. After the second Functions... session though, I had to hop on a plane back to boring cold old Berkeley (via San Francisco). Next year I plan to do the whole conference, and hopefully will then get to meet all the terrifically talented Hobbinses. Boston isn't San Diego, but hey. Anyhow, I'm sorry to've missed you, John, and the opportunity to meet so many others, as well. Soon enough!

[JohnFH]

I'm sorry I missed you, Kevin. You seem to have packed into your short time at the conference an amazing number of contacts and presentations.

[Lingamish]

Sorry, JK, all the feminists I've ever known just pelt me with spittle and rotting vegetables.

[Suzanne]

Dave,

Are you trying to say that you are hideous to feminists, or they are hideous to you. I have been trying to figure out how to get you with a peashooter, but you only come in range every year or two.

Frankly, only Stefan seems to have the right idea about feminists - fine dining, long walks on the beach ...

[Angela Erisman]

Next year, don't schedule it the same day as the HUC luncheon, and you'll probably see both Charles and I. I'm very sorry to have missed it, but (soon-to-be) alma mater loyalty has to come first. It would have been fun to meet everyone I don't yet know. And contribute some estrogen to the room. Perhaps next year.

Sorry, Esteban, but even if I had been there, I don't count as an eligible female blogger. My feminist husband allows me exciting scholarly discussions, and definitely fine dining (he's a feminist chef), but the other things he wouldn't appreciate so much.

[JohnFH]

Angie, it was good to see you if only briefly at San Diego. I'll be in Boston next year it seems, since I was invited to join the steering committee of the Hebrew poetry section.

Next year in Boston the dinner will be planned further ahead after intense consultation between members of the secret society. I do know who to ask to bring the wine now, don't I?

[voxstefani]

Check it out, Lingamish--unlike you, I got away scot free with my potentially incendiary comment (as did John), and even won a commendation from Suzanne! I think I'll put that in my résumé. Heh.

Angela> What you say only serves to underscore my point, of course! :-)

[Chris Tilling]

Great to meet you! Even if briefly.