I wish we had taken pictures. Damm was in a suit-black-with a dark blue dress shirt. He looked snazzy. I was in a swishy blue skirt and white belted short-sleeve dress shirt. The Orclette wore her shiny red dress and the Miniorc was in dark grey pants and a green polo. We were adorable. The occasion was the baptism of the son of friends of ours. They attend an Anglican church and the dress code there is a bit formal. I didn't see a single person wearing jeans, which was nice. I'm not sure I like the dressed-down look favored by modern churches. But then I like pomp and circumstance.
Afterwards we were invited to a country club for lunch. It wasn't the fanciest I'd seen, but there was considerably more silverware than I was used to. And I completely thought the rule of thumb was to work from the inside out. After a while of using the big fork I noticed that everyone else was using the smaller fork ... and I remembered that it's work from the outside in. Embarrassing moment, anyone?
The food was excellent, and the waiters were silent and efficient. I loved it. Damm felt a bit out of place-the last time he'd been to something at that level of society was at my grandparents' 50th anniversary celebration (my grandparents are comfortably wealthy). It's been a long while since I'd taken a deportment class (I was 13) and a while since I'd mixed with people who had incomes above the college student level. So I was a bit out of my league ... but that's what we'll be mixing with when Damm commissions. Best to start getting comfy:)
(And when I graduate and don't have to worry about classes I'll be reading Emily Post and how to throw parties. Because I'm a nerd and think all knowledge and social instruction can be gained from books.)
In addition it was fun to hang out with people who had little kids-there's a camaraderie there that's precious and soothing to the soul. To mine, at least. You understand and sympathize when the kiddos get loud. You can obtain baby wipes when you completely forget to restock your diaper bag. And our friends who's son was baptised-the Orc Friends (and their family and friends)-are some of the most welcoming and friendliest people I've ever met. It really felt like we were part of their family, for the day at least:) Makes me want to squeal "We have friends! And they have a kid!" really loudly and jump up and down.
But of course I won't do that. That's not proper behavior for a lady;)
Addendum: It occurred to me, after I pressed "publish post", that the label High Society can evoke images of elitism. I didn't mean to imply that at all. What I was trying to convey was a sense of the uniqueness of the day for us Orcs. It ain't often we get to dress up, attend a beautiful church, and lunch at a country club that is dripping with understated elegance. Outback is as fancy as we get:)
Comments
I'm not too fond of any church that has a dress code. A church's purpose is to bring God's Word to the people, not to make sure they dress nice. I've seen people come into church in shorts and t-shirts and they are more into the service than the formally dressed people.
Did you all have tea where you had to lift your pinky finger? :)
Cheerio....s and Frosted Flakes,
Klaki
And as for the dress code ... I do agree that a church should accept anybody. But in doing so, and in making buildings less grandiose and more practical, I do feel as if we've lost some of the representative beauty and perhaps some of the awe that should be present. I'm not sure what the solution is.