I know how you feel about the difficulties of "luncheon" participation at work. Particularly when you are not feeling well or on a special diet. The lady who responded to you so rudely has the problem, but I know it's easier said than done to keep from responding to such outrage with hurt feelings. Believe it or not, this will pass. Work is socially difficult for some of us. Others thrive on it and may take our lack of participation as anti-social. Glad your boss understood. That, in the long run, is the main thing. Try giving the lady an out-of-the-blue compliment when next you meet, if you can do so genuinely. If nothing else, perhaps she will be wearing an attractive hair clip! Responding with kindness can be devastating to the rude one! billieJ