“Let’s do lunch” is a fallacy; a farce; a cop-out. For, when uttered, it is the closest either party will get to meeting. No, you’re not going to “do lunch” any more than you’re going to “let’s.” You’re each going to get in your car, drive off to your millions of daily tasks, and forget you ever suggested something as organized as a lunch date.

Some say, “Let’s do lunch” as an intentional mis-lead. Insincerely, they throw out the idea so as not to look bad. Really, they’re saying, “Sure, I want to hang out again -at least, I want to appear that I want to.” Inside, they’ve breathed a sigh of relief that they won’t have to see the other person again. Much like answering, “Fine” to a “How are you,” they throw out their “Let’s do lunch”es with careless aplomb.

But let’s say you do want to meet someone again. Let’s say you do want to join them for a midday meal. Here’s what you do: pull out your phone/planner/calendar/spouse right then and there. Say, “Which day works best for you?” Both of you then put the date and time in your schedules.

Then, of course, you’ll reschedule once the children get sick or the car blows up or an asteroid hit your house -still, you made the effort.

No matter what, though, it’s not lunch’s fault. Heaven knows it already gets a lot of flack for being the middle-child meal of the day. No, it’s the fault of good intentions and unforeseen circumstances. It’s never the fault of lunch.

©2020 Chel Owens