skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Had the groom told us beforehand that the dress code was 'sky clad', the guests, along with the bride and the members of the wedding party, most likely wouldn't have shown up. To be honest, I didn't know the couple that well; I'm merely a friend of a friend of a friend. I only went because I'd never been to a Pagan wedding before. Little did I know at the time that lesbian Universal Life ministers would become a trend, so I totally wasted my time with this one.
Anyway, we thought he made the request in jest, but when he disrobed and threatened to call the police if others didn't follow suit (pun totally intended), we knew he meant business. The bride cried while her father threatened to punch his new son-in-law in the mouth. If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: hard core Pagans and free-flowing champagne are never a good combination.
I'm not comfortable with public nudity; I am, however, comfortable with free cake, so once I helped myself to a slice, I hightailed it out of there.
Now you understand why I rarely leave the house. There's always going to be some element of large gatherings that makes me uneasy. Whether it's nudity or just the noise, I can't handle being part of a big group. I play a good game for a while, though, and can find tools to help me cope (see: free cake), but generally speaking, I'd prefer spending time with a small segment of fully-clothed, like-minded individuals.
My friends and I gladly own our introvert status, and we've finally reached the age in which we're comfortable telling one another, "It's 8:00, and I need to leave." We, unlike those pesky extroverts, would never insist that you stay for just one more.
We understand and embrace the comfort zone concept - we're only equipped with what we have and we try to make the best of it. No amount of goading or badgering shall change us, so don't bother trying.
I guess the point of today's story, boys and girls, is that we've no right to infringe our own way of life upon one another. Your insistence upon nudity is someone else's worst nightmare (for more reasons than one. Have you ever noticed that those who practice nudity are never really the ones you want to see naked?). You've no right to request that everyone get on board with it. I'm not enforcing my fabulous clothes upon you, Streaking Stanley, so leave me alone.
Live and let live, friends. That's the elegant way.
On-the-job travels have kept me away for a couple of weeks, so I welcome myself back to this little musing with open arms.
Unfortunately, Gentle Reader, I have no specific topic in mind, but since we're here to celebrate elegance, let's reconnoiter. We cannot make strides toward world domination if we don't take pause to review what, specifically, we're here to do.
Elegant Musings Mission Statement: to enhance our lives with lovely and loving people, places, and things. To ignore and/or mock those who refuse to measure up to our high standards. To dress appropriately for every occasion and to use the proper fork. To display good will for all except those who don't deserve it (which includes but is not limited to bigots, hate-mongers, narcissists, oblivions, and your basic run-of-the-mill idiots).
Requirements for Acceptance: a good sense of humor and a desire to make the world a kinder, more compassionate and spiffier place.
Things We Won't Tolerate: whiners, loud-mouths, stinkpots, cat-haters, know-it-alls, and lactose.
Things We Will Tolerate: humor, irony, spiritual exploration, art, five-dollar words, and bottles of red wine.
How You Can Help: laugh at this blog when appropriate, share this blog if you'd like, and take this and any other advice-offering forum with a grain of salt. Only you know what's best for you. Don't give me that, of course you do - turn off the TV, sit in silence for a minute (or day...or week...) and try to figure yourself out, for crying out loud.
Any Other Business?: why, yes, thanks for asking. The only way we can make the world a more elegant place is by doing the best job we can while on this plane. No fighting, demonstrating, petition-signing is going to do it. Pick a couple of causes that resonate with you (in addition to this one), and contribute what you can peacefully.
Turn off all gadgets while at the dinner table.
Eat good food. Real food. Fresh food.
Shop locally if you can, and do visit second-hand and thrift stores often.
Limit the amount of stuff in your home.
Clean your home, for Heavens' sake.
Adopt as many cats and dogs as you can.
Limit your attention to Western medicine; seek alternatives when you're ill (if you're gravely ill, see a doctor, though - don't be stupid).
Get together with friends on a regular basis.
I could go on, but I've got Pineapple Pork (yes, local and organic, Wise Guy) in the crock pot and I must take my leave of you, dear hearts, in order to check on it. If I haven't told you before, let me tell you now: I appreciate you so much for reading my little scribblings, and although we may not change the world, it's nice to know I'm in good company in our efforts.
