Sunday, December 16, 2012

Standing in line...

I've found myself standing in line quite a bit lately.
It's a busy time of year at the post office, bakery and the small shops.



In the line up at the bakery an elderly gent was dressed so fine that I did a double take.
He had a grey wool coat which must have been cashmere and a jaunty plaid scarf red, black and white on a grey background. His black shoes were shined and smart. He had snow white hair and a sparkle in his eye.
He was very animated and chatted with the clerks as he bought a loaf of bread and some scones.

The woman behind him was overdressed in my opinion...she looked like she was trying too hard to impress.
She obviously had money as she was wearing designer duds head to toe.
Coach bag and shoes and a Burberry coat and scarf. She was in a hurry and was rather inpatient with the clerk which made others in line up roll their eyes. She bought quite a few pastries and sticky buns. When she turned around I could see how pretty she was...soft features and on her lips she wore a deep shade of crimson but she had an air of sadness about her, perhaps she was grieving.

The woman directly in front of me had 3 kids in tow, all in private school uniforms, jumping up and down like Jack rabbits. She was buying them after school treats. I thought she looked amazing...simple denim jeans, a red cardigan, her hair pulled back into a pony tail, huge pearl studs a simple wallet and her car keys. She looked too young to have children of this age.
(I wonder how she tends to her complexion, whatever she does it's working.)

I was next in line and having rather an "off day" I was tired and had not taken much care with my choice of clothes as I ran out the door before the bakery closed. I had on LuLu black capri length Yoga pants, a pair of teal Ben Simons, and my black puffy down coat, a grey scarf and my hair was a mass of tangles from the wind.
I'd even forgotten to put on lipstick...



Thinking to myself as I studied the customers while I waited ~
I wondered what ~ or if people even looked at me...
and if they did what would they be thinking!


I should have done what Mother would have...
which would be 
dress your best even if you are going down in the elevator to the lobby to pick up the post!

I am so glad I didn't let Mother see me that day!

~ ~ ~

Take care

Do you strike up a conversation with strangers while waiting in line
or are you an observer?

~ ~ ~

My heart is heavy after hearing about the massacre at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut.
It is all just too horrible to imagine...
question on my lips is why?
I'll never understand it.


25 comments:

Sheila said...

I like your mother's view of dressing! I almost never dress down, and rarely in public. I chat with people when I'm in line, and I like chatting with the clerks. I always thank them - it's a pretty thankless job.

Pondside said...

Oh yes, I chat with strangers in line, especially with elderly strangers. I love people, generally, and am curious about them, so a line up is made for me!

Genuine Lustre said...

I love your observations. Yes, I talk to darn near everyone. I figure everybody has a story. Particularly, I attract little old grandpas in the grocery store.

KSL said...

I'm not a chatter to strangers. Have enough chattering going on in my own head.

Annie said...

I love your mom's attitude..Like Coco Chanel...you never know when you will encounter destiny...best be dressed for it...Paraphrasing..

Adrienne Shubin said...

I rarely strike up a conversation with a stranger. But if someone chats with me, I will certainly partake.
Last week, I was out for the day running errands and I realized that I had on my Burberry scarf and carrying a designer handbag with logos. I was that "trying too hard" lady you saw in line! I don't care for that sort of look either so I will have to pick one or the other next time.

Leanne Maguire said...

I too love your observations. I was at Walmart a couple of weeks ago and in a long lineup I spotted an older lady in about her late 50's and she was wearing faux Burberry slip-ons and a tan quilted jacket with black cropped pants. Her hair was tidy and pulled back into a low ponytail and small gold hoop earrings to complete the outfit. I also found her manner quite pleasing to the clerk serving her :) She was a gem in the midst of some of the more sloppily dressed patrons. I was too shy to tell her that I thought she looked lovely :(

Such a shame what happened in the U.S last Friday....I held my kids a little tighter that night.

Patricia said...

Hostess, I also love your observations. The town we live in now is pretty casual, so I don't often see people who are dressed in a particularly chic way. I must also try to do better!
I love to talk with people, but that doesn't happen too much here either. I find that when I go home to Scotland, people are a lot chattier with strangers - bus queue, shop queue, there's usually a chance to chat, even if it's only about the weather!

mette said...

Oh my, you should see me in my stable gear on quick errands, no sign of glamour, as people in our village dress like people in the country do, practically.
But - in case of accident, I do wear clean and pretty lingerie under my " work & hobby clothes though.
I´ll talk to strangers, if they address me first. Why not.
I rarely need to queue and don´t pay much attention to the others before/ behind me. I just wish to get my business done asap.

Kristien62 said...

It's too bad that you were shy. I'm sure she would have appreciated your kind observation. I know how hard it is to approach a stranger, but I, too, have missed the opportunity to tell an older woman how lovely she looked and I wish I had. I can think of one in particular on Cape Cod last summer. I would love to have copied her style and, in fact, have used her inspiration on a few occasions. I bet she would be flattered to know this.

KSL said...

I miss your comments to our posts. I realize this is a busy time of year, but it's one of the things that makes your blog so cozy.

Judith said...

I almost felt I was in the queue with you,your observations are so detailed. Ida

Duchesse said...

There is no why, hostess... and if there is, the why I am asking is why are private citizens are allowed to buy assault weapons? (And I ask this question as a US citizen as well as a Canadian one.)

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I know how much time and effort you take and always make a great impression!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I think we can all be more congenial and line ups are great opportunities for meet and greets!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I Love those sweet gents too!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I try to silence that inner voice! It kept me awake when the gale force winds woke me up in the wee wee hours...I was going over my do list from about 4 until 6:30 when I had to get up :-(

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh that is so true...I have been in that situation several times!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Adrienne I think you look lovely and never over dressed...never looking like you are trying too hard!
I feel a tinge of pain reading your comment as i would never want to cause you distress.
It was the situation and my observation at the time....
Please do not take this to heart...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Leanne,
I've had difficulty with the shootings and trying to get my bearings.

Kristien,
If you had complimented her I am sure tat she would have been quite elated!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Gosh one day I'd love to visit Scotland...
casual dress is comfortable and honest it needn't be designer labels to be neat and tidy and well put together.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Ah! you do have a luxe secret then mette!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

There is a lot going on here in The Humble Bungalow...we are on the renovation wrap up and I've got a really dodgy back which is in spasm and I am seeking relief with massage and hunting for a RMT.
Have been popping Aleve like crazy :-(

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

It is interesting when we just look around, there is always something going on...
see you at the bakery or the butcher's this week ida!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I know...
I'll never understand why someone needs that kind of personal protection.
Who are they afraid of?