Going viral

Here's something my mom wrote me last night about my lunches:

...it reminds me somehow of when we used to have tea parties when you were little. We didn't spend much time on the food because you insisted on fussing over the place settings and presentation. I think the little tupperware dishes had everything from washminnows to petrified halloween candy put in them. There were a few things that grew mold and a few that became unrecognizable and play dough that crystallized. So here you are playing tea party again.

And now I want to do a bento tea party.

• tri-color radiatore pasta with more of the marinara Sal made over the weekend
• salad of red leaf lettuce, rainbow carrots, celery, and dried cranberries (not pictured: simple homemade vinaigrette)
• strawberry slices on one side, dark chocolate covered raisins on the other

So the infection appears to be spreading. One friend started a bento wish list about a week and a half after we met for coffee and she asked me about bento. Another is back on the bento wagon thanks to my continuing obsession. Or in her case, bike. And a third reports that she looked for bento items whilst perusing a kitchen store because of my recent purchase of bento gear.

You could be next.