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I mindlessly put in an order for food, from the same place that I normally do while working remotely. I’ve settled on an option that I like, an egg wrap with caramelized onions, sautéed spinach, and cheese. While I’d often rather make something myself, it breaks up the day, and gives me a small reward to look forward to.
The meal arrived and I took it out. I noticed that my name was on the paper bag in flowing text. Surrounding it was a bubble, like a thought cloud.
All throughout this process I didn’t see a single person, basically was reading/typing all morning and listening to music. It was completely inward.
This is completely ridiculous, and simple but my mind got whimsical with it. It was just like the modicum of effort or personality to it that made me consider the act/person where I wouldn’t have necessarily otherwise. This person perhaps saw my name show up, and maybe even feels kind of proud about preparing what I wanted? Perhaps they recognized my repeated patronage?
All they see of me each time is my name, and my choice. They correlate it with a time. All I see of them is what they make for me, which I accept.
I don’t want to make it out like I completely ignore the creator of my meals. To me someone preparing a meal for you is actually a very memorable thing, in any context be it fast food or a five star restaurant.
It was just that this digital, remotely mediated processes had obscured some of this connection and seeing my name, something so person to me, gave me some reflection where I’d normally just begin eating. I cut out my name from the bag after I had finished, and put it on the shelf while I worked.
I like the imaginative power I get from not knowing this person. Cynically I am aware that I am probably putting more thought into this than the writer did.
But I wonder if, given the same meal order, I could single out creators of the wrap or a type of meal? I mean this is clearly possible, but I was thinking back to the previous times I had purchased this wrap. There are always subtle differences.