Etiquette
Apparently this is the week for Rian and swimming pools to become one.
After class this morning, Aidan and I drove across town to the Fancy Golf Club, which also has an Exclusive Pool. Rian does not generally venture into countryclubville. It is a ttch too far and the natives are a ttch too judgemental and there are public pools within walking distance.
But, Rian was curious. And the pool is, indeed, lovely. Sunny lounges, clean water, tidy locker rooms and a snack bar waitress that brings one whatever one's heart so desires.
Aidan and Rian swam in the sun. Drank gallons of water. And then decided to avoid the snack bar and attempt the club restaurant instead.
It was, of course, frequented by golfers in various states of dress and heat stroke. Children must eat in the 'lounge' so as not to disturb the 'regulars'. The 'regulars' have white table cloths and linen. Rian and Aidan had hot dogs and french fries and green paper napkins.
Whilst Aidan dissected his dogdog with a fork, Rian eyed the regulars. Most had grey hair and wore ugly socks. One woman, oddly enough, wore a tennis skirt and a diamond necklace.
There is no tennis court in countryclubville, and a diamond necklace should only be worn after dark. So Rian found this particular creature quite interesting.
She was loud, perhaps a ttch drunk, and very happy. She made Rian smile. Until I began to notice that she had not a trace of manners to her. She bossed the wait staff around, never once bothering with a please or thank you. She knocked a glass of water on her companion, and did not bother to apologize.
"Aidan," Rian murmured quietly, "take your foot off of the table."
If there is one thing arrogant Rian cannot stand, it is people who know their manners but do not bother to use them. I am not thinking of salad fork versus dessert fork. Or the correct way to employ a butter knife, yes?
Every adult, surely, should know that one makes a point of saying thank you for a kind word or a thoughtful gift. Or please when making a request.
I have, I suppose, a very bad habit of noticing who uses their manners and who does not. Which makes Rian, perhaps, as judgemental as those I profess to avoid and as lacking as those who have forgotten etiquette.
After class this morning, Aidan and I drove across town to the Fancy Golf Club, which also has an Exclusive Pool. Rian does not generally venture into countryclubville. It is a ttch too far and the natives are a ttch too judgemental and there are public pools within walking distance.
But, Rian was curious. And the pool is, indeed, lovely. Sunny lounges, clean water, tidy locker rooms and a snack bar waitress that brings one whatever one's heart so desires.
Aidan and Rian swam in the sun. Drank gallons of water. And then decided to avoid the snack bar and attempt the club restaurant instead.
It was, of course, frequented by golfers in various states of dress and heat stroke. Children must eat in the 'lounge' so as not to disturb the 'regulars'. The 'regulars' have white table cloths and linen. Rian and Aidan had hot dogs and french fries and green paper napkins.
Whilst Aidan dissected his dogdog with a fork, Rian eyed the regulars. Most had grey hair and wore ugly socks. One woman, oddly enough, wore a tennis skirt and a diamond necklace.
There is no tennis court in countryclubville, and a diamond necklace should only be worn after dark. So Rian found this particular creature quite interesting.
She was loud, perhaps a ttch drunk, and very happy. She made Rian smile. Until I began to notice that she had not a trace of manners to her. She bossed the wait staff around, never once bothering with a please or thank you. She knocked a glass of water on her companion, and did not bother to apologize.
"Aidan," Rian murmured quietly, "take your foot off of the table."
If there is one thing arrogant Rian cannot stand, it is people who know their manners but do not bother to use them. I am not thinking of salad fork versus dessert fork. Or the correct way to employ a butter knife, yes?
Every adult, surely, should know that one makes a point of saying thank you for a kind word or a thoughtful gift. Or please when making a request.
I have, I suppose, a very bad habit of noticing who uses their manners and who does not. Which makes Rian, perhaps, as judgemental as those I profess to avoid and as lacking as those who have forgotten etiquette.
posted by La Tulipe | 1:42 PM
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