Photo credit: Carolyn Thrasher
I’ve decided to, just this once, stray from my regular blog posting format and take a moment to look back at an awesome year of lunches.
I started this blog one year ago with my first post about my good friend, and at the time new mom, Ali Piazza Kaniouras. When I started, I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I figured my friends would stop by my site, my family would definitely read it, and that was about it.
Never in a million years did I think that not only would my friends and family read it, but complete strangers. I have met people who know my blog but not me. So weird! And never did I ever think NOW Magazine would care about my blog.
So first things first, I need to thank a whole lot of people:
- My first thank you is to the very generous people who I have taken out for lunch. They gave me their time, which I know is often very precious. And beyond the time they gave me for lunch, a good number of the people on this list have been incredibly supportive and encouraging of me and this adventure and this really means the world to me. So a big thank you to:
- Ali Piazza Kaniouras
- Matt Adams
- Meghan Warby
- Juste Kayihura
- Gary Ellis
- Eamon MacMahon
- Mathew Ingram
- Olivia Chow
- April Williams
- Naheed Mustafa
- Alexander Manu
- Dr. Benjamin Neel
- Tanya Howard
- Bruce Bell
- Lisa LaFlamme
- Dr. Steven Cohen
- Dr. Qinya Liu
- Patricia Lovett-Reid
- Carolyn Thrasher for taking my fun new blog pics
- Les Louises for giving me a FREE LUNCH!
- NOW Magazine for taking me out for lunch
- All of my friends, family and my boyfriend who have spread the word about my blog – be it talking about it in person, on Twitter, on their blogrolls, in blog posts and on Facebook
- My wonderful Facebook Fans!
- Alexander Manu for letting me audit his incredible course at Rotman’s
- Everyone who has helped me to gain access to some of the amazing people I have taken for lunch
- And last but definitely not least, my readers!
When I started this blog, I never knew how much I would actually learn (and how much I would love doing it). Of course, I am learning all of the stuff that I post on the site, but also (and I might get a bit cheesy here) I grew a lot through the process. I really stepped out of my comfort zone. Approaching complete strangers, asking them for lunch and then getting the nerve to actually GO on the lunches. Some of the people I took out are a bit intimidating given their tremendous successes.
The Lunch it forward section of my blog has been an insightful glimpse into the minds of my lunch guests, as well as readers – hearing who they would want to take out for their dream lunch. I hope that conversation continues into year two.
I have also learned a lot about the world of social media and blogging. And it’s this knowledge that has helped me be recognized at work and led to me being invited to Vancouver to work during the Olympic Games. I can’t wait!
So I turn 30 in a week. Yikes. So that gives me one more year to get my lunch with Paul Krugman, squeeze in as many lunches as I can and maybe take this lunch blog thing on the road!
Lunch with Mary 
Awesome stuff Mary! This is an amazing thing you’ve put together. It was real fun working with you on Alex’s course. All the Best!!
Congratulations on a year’s worth of exploration. I look forward to more lunchtime with you and your future guests.
Mary, your blog is fantastic! What a great group of lunch guests- congratulations and I look forward to even more great guests in the upcoming year :)
Warner: continue stepping out of your comfort zone and I will continue to follow your blog.
Congrats on one year down, cheers to many more years to come!
Hi Mary,
I have been lurking for the past year on your blog. I am so proud of you. You have accomplished so much with this blog. You have taken risks that I only wish I had taken when your age (or even at my age!). I have learned along with you, and I love that my neice is teaching me many things.
I am looking forward to learning more in the year to come.
Happy Birthday
love, Janet
Congrats on a year of enticing lunches!! This is just the beginning!!
Thanks for the shout-out Mary! I’m glad to have had lunch with you, even though not as a subject ;) Keep up the awesome blogging!