cathyxyz wrote:

> Regardless of religion, or the quality of the food, I think all this
> talk about "Dead Spreads" is a bit ghoulish, considering the "Guest of
> Honor" is no longer around to enjoy it.


Thinking about it this way may help: People who are grieving shouldn't
have to think about the day to day mundane problems of preparing food.
They may be so distraught that they don't want to eat. Loving friends
bring food so that the immediate family doesn't have to prepare it, and
they lovingly encourage the grieving family to eat regular meals so they
can keep their health up at a time when that's the last thing on their
minds.


Here's what I think is ghoulish: The grieving family has enough on
their minds, but they're still expected to cater a huge party for a
bunch of so-called friends who know where to find a big spread of food.
They say a few words about how sorry they are, then enjoy cocktails and
cake.


I'll leave it up to you to decide where the line is drawn between the
first and the second.


--Lia