Apr. 13, 2003 - 01:03:05
Dear Vincent,
Today was the wedding shower for Lily, my cousin on my dad's side. All of Lilly's friends from her private school high school years came. I've never seen so many sweater sets in one place in my life (or strings of pearls for that matter). So here are a small series of anecdotes and observations from what was simply a Great Gatsby afternoon:
A bit of background: Lilly went to a private all girls high school. It was, and is very upper echelon. She was able to go because my Aunt Lenore taught there otherwise it would not have been an option. Lilly has stayed friends with the girls she met there. Now many years later, they are all employed in prestigious white collar jobs, cultured, polite, can mix drinks, entertain (as long as you tell them nine months in advance so they can fold the napkins into replicas of the Eiffel tower and other major landmarks), and are remarkably color coordinated (in as mentioned, sweater sets.) I am rather fond of a few of them- others I am not so fond of. While they are all successful, 3/4s of them have never had to work for anything. Welcome, Vincent, to my afternoon with Baltimore high society.
The shower was at the maid of honor's parents' house in the high class section of the outskirts of Baltimore. When I pulled into the 'community' I realized I didn't have the house number. I soon realized that house numbers would do me little good, as all the houses were at least a mile apart and set practically out of sight up long winding driveways trimmed by trees. So I called my Aunt Lenore on her cell phone and said "Aunt Lenore where's the house?" Silence followed. "Do you know you're coming to the Macalister's Meg?" "Yes..." I said slowly. "Well, it's the one with the wrought iron gates and the gold colored 'M' in the middle." "Right, um, the one with the big 'M.'" Naturally I felt brilliant.
Going into the house was overwhelming. I wasn't aware I had to remove my coat right away but it was okay because they detached me from it. I mean that literally. Apparently high society has no rules against pulling your coat off you if you don't move fast enough. Then, Mrs. Macalister looked at me and said surprised, "You're so early." "Oh I'm sorry, "I responded, "I though the invitation said one o'clock." "It did," she said bemusedly.
Hardwood floors, lustrous of course, mostly covered by thick ornately designed carpets and candles all over. There was a grand piano so beautifully kept that I imagine it must tempt even the most musically inept. The French doors were opened so that you cold walk from the front to the back of the house and onto the flagstone patio. And all kinds of dignified knick knacks: globes, maps, diplomas, awards, books all impeccibly gathering dust.
Aunt Lenore asked Charles Macalister (father of the maid of honor) to help her get her gift out of the car. He responded, "I'll just have my lawn boy do it."
As the afternoon passed I mingled trying to get reacquainted with Lilly's friends. Lilly reintroduced me to her friend Nicole who after shaking my hand looked at me rather blackly and said, "I thought you were in grade school." The statement was so ridiculous I assumed she was kidding, when I saw she wasn't I offered, "Well, the last time you met me was a really long time ago." "Oh, you were in grade school then!" she concluded. "Yes." I affirmed trying to gulp down my soda as gracefully as possible so I'd have reason to excuse myself. "You were very gawky when I met you in grade school." she said helpfully. I shrugged my shoulders and offered "I got older?" before I darted away. She scowled at me before I could get completely out of range. Apparently it is not convenient for me to get older.
Carrie (who is a bridesmaid among other things) is able to identify nail polish names and brands simply by color. Holding her wine glass she correctly identified the toe nail polish of most of the women at the shower. When she got to me and ordered me to remove my shoes I confessed, "I don't wear toe nail polish." "We'll fix that!" she said bounding up and grabbing my wrist, "I've some in my purse." My toe nails are now colored "Fiesta" by o.p.i. I've also received a sound scolding for biting my nails. However, Carrie has promised me that she will stop by with fake nails, which she will personally glue on.
Thankfully, she does not know where I live.
I remarked to Monica, that it was "very heartening that everyone has been friends for so long." "Well we're lucky," she said frankly, "you can only really make such close friends like this in private school. You know what I mean?" "Oh yes! I know exactly what you mean!" I exclaimed, "I never tried to get close to any of my public (derogatory snort) school friends, (sociable laughter) what would have been the point?"
The high point of the afternoon was when Lilly read allowed the card that went with my Aunt Lenore's present. "If you have to do it, at least you'll do it in style." Wine glasses froze halfway to lips. Chatter died. Even the calico cat arching luxuriously on the windowsill seemed to linger in a half completed stretch. Things resumed after Lilly opened the present- really nice pots and pans, my Aunt Lenore hates to cook.
At one point Lilly opened a present and triumphantly brandished it. "A cherry de-pitter!" she announced. "OH!" said the women.
Hours later I excused myself feeling as though it will be quite acceptable to never own a sweater set.
Would you like me to just start adding to the color skeleton you already sent me? Or would you like to start with just one character? Or otherwise?
Periphrastically,
Meghan
what they said - what they will say
