During my entire dental career, 45 years, I never went out for a proper lunch. It was usually a sandwich "wolfed down" in my not-so-elegant laboratory in the back of my office. The lunches were never quite satisfactory, but were gut-filling and they allowed me to continue working till 9 p.m. when I returned home for supper.

Now that I am retired and I am a septuagenarian (note the "u" in septuagenarian. It was called to my attention by one of my readers), lunch has taken on a whole new meaning. Meeting old friends at lunch is a pleasant way of sitting down and renewing old times.

On my "things to do list," at present I have the names of five lovely people whom I will call after the holidays to arrange a lunch. My former nurse, Andrea, a native of Jamaica, BWI, and I had lunch six weeks ago at Ben's Deli. I cringed when she ordered a pastrami sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise, but I adore her anyway. She is really spunky and is truly an inspiring American Horatio Alger story.

It doesn't matter where you go for these lunches, but it should be quiet, friendly and have a booth for privacy. Many dark mysterious secrets are poured out over a tuna fish sandwich and a Coke with lemon, at a diner.

Here's some advice:

1) Look through your personal telephone book or your spinning Rolodex and find a friend you haven't talked to for quite a while. Give him/her a ring on the telephone and set up a meeting over lunch.

2) Spouses are not necessary.

3) Three-way conversations are not as satisfying as a tête-à-tête (literally head-to-head). People will confide in each other much more when there are just two.

A diner, an Italian restaurant, a Chinese or a Japanese place and a kosher deli are all great as meeting places. Settle into the booth with your lunch-mate and let the good times roll.

Bon appétit!