Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

DUNCH

Connection, Creativity, and the Joy of Shared Time

Dunch isn’t just a clever portmanteau—it’s a celebration of friendship and flexibility. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how mealtime improvisation fosters emotional connection, storytelling, and the rituals that keep relationships strong.

And you want to know what that is? Have you not heard? Dunch is the meal you have between lunch and dinner. When your calendar is busy and you want to spend time with a friend, you have to improvise. I am only free between 2 pm and 4 pm, so we will meet for food at our favorite place and call it Dunch.

I love the cleverness of my friends. This dear woman has invented an entirely new meal that we will no doubt enjoy this week and for weeks to come.

Getting together with a friend to share a meal, to break bread, to spend time together over food and drink is always a delight. People have been doing this for decades and will continue this tradition for years to come.

Food tends to bring out the best in us. Of course, a glass of wine may also contribute to the pleasure.

While Dunching with my friend, we will explore our families and bring each other up to date on their adventures. We will share stories about our friends and how they have been traveling over the summer or hunkering down in their air-conditioned spaces through this blasted heat. We will no doubt venture into politics and then feel the red-hot sting of putting your hand right on the burner and withdrawing quickly before your skin falls off. We will look forward to the coming Fall events and getting dressed up for lunches and parties with our hats and gloves that only come out for special occasions. I will wear my white necklace, given to me spontaneously by a friend, as I admired her wearing it and thought fondly of that loving gesture.

Dunching will bring us closer together as we reminisce about the past and look forward to the future. After all, we are on a journey together. We travel in the same circles. We enjoy good conversation and read great books. We laugh at ourselves and our colleagues. We support each other and volunteer ourselves as needed.

At some point, Dunch will be over. We will pay the bill, remember the good times, and promise each other that the time between will be shorter next time. Staying connected is essential, and this new method of Dunching has been perfect!

Thank you, friend.

Want to explore how mealtime creativity fosters connection? Visit DishPairing’s guide to mealtime fusion and social rituals, Simply Synonyms’ breakdown of Dunch and linner, and Emory University’s lexicon of everyday neologisms.

If you’re reflecting on friendship, emotional connection, or creative rituals, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, joy, and belonging.