On Being a Host & Being a Guest

As the host, some honour is accorded to you. It is acknowledged that you have gone to some trouble and thought to orchestrate an occasion. This is why, when you begin (or revive) entertaining in your home, you understand that it is something of a rite of passage. For young entertainers it’s quite a grown-up business, and for more seasoned entertainers, there is the realisation that you are expanding and embracing your social circle. There is an old-fashioned sense of service in keeping relationships and the social fabric strong. As you prepare, you consciously bear your guests in mind. You enter into the ritual of preparation, spending your time and your money in an act of devotion.