Table for 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America by Shari Leid (Book Excerpt)

Excerpted from Table for 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America by Shari Leid. Copyright © 2025 Capucia Publishing. Reprinted with permission from Shari Leid and Capucia Publishing. All rights reserved.

Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

I hope you’re as excited as I am to come along on this incredible journey. As I sit here, surrounded by piles of paper and notes, giving my manuscript one last read, I can’t help but look back on what’s been an extraordinary adventure. When I first started out, my plan was simple: travel the country and meet fifty people—strangers or acquaintances whom I’d had little to no contact with over the past thirty-five to forty years. Little did I know, these individuals would become my teachers, sharing the wisdom of their life stories during our lively conversations.

Life, as it turns out, is full of surprises. From the moment I dreamed up this project to now, as I’m packing up my house and saying goodbye to a twenty-six-year marriage I thought would last forever, my journey has taken more unexpected twists and turns than I ever could have predicted.

Much like the roads I’ve traveled.

It was the Spring of 2022, and I was fifty-two when this wild idea struck me: to go to each of the fifty states, searching for something deeper than the usual tourist spots. But how could I make it meaningful? Then it hit me: The true magic of a place isn’t just in its landmarks, but in the people you meet. What if, despite all our perceived differences and the political and social divides permeating our country, I could find connection simply by breaking bread with a stranger? I wondered if I, in my own small way, could help fuel connections and community across our beloved country. And that’s how my 50 States Project was born.

Through most of my fifty-third year, in 2023, I turned this dream into reality. By the time my fifty-fourth birthday rolled around in December, I found myself filing for divorce. Now, finishing up this manuscript in August 2024, riding the rollercoaster of divorce, I’ve woven in my personal diary entries, pouring my heart and soul into these pages.

Revisiting these stories as I edit—remembering each woman and being inspired by the connection we felt as we shared pieces of our lives—has given me the confidence to move forward. I now believe that the unexpected sharp turns on the road of life, although sometimes treacherous, can be bordered by the most spectacular landscapes.

It’s been one heck of a ride. With all the lessons learned and strength gained, I’m excited for whatever comes next—even if I’m not quite sure what that is yet. Thanks for taking this wild, imperfectly perfect journey with me.

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