could it be?
could it be? could my camera possibly no longer be broken? how great is this? we'll see how long it lasts. i'm bummed i couldn't take pictures of people at easter lunch today though.
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in other news, i searched a little bit to confirm about my patient. it turns out it wasn't my patient; it was his brother (i saw only the mom on the news). still, it was indeed the mom i'd met, that same lovely person i'd interacted with.
it is still sad.
[respectful pause of appropriate length]
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here's one for you. i used to subscribe to the practice of always, always bringing something along to a meal hosted at someone else's house. it seemed like the proper thing to do, even if unsolicited. sometimes, however, the hostess expresses that she does not want people to bring things. of late i have taken that to mean exactly what it sounds like it means, and i do not bring anything. i feel odd about it, going against my habit, but i feel also that people wouldn't say that they didn't want you to bring anything if secretly they did.
today's luncheon was hosted by someone i regard as a close friend. we're probably tighter than any of the other people who attended the meal, her spouse excluded (of course). and, as per her invitation and multiple answers to questions of "what can i bring?" (that being, "don't bring anything"), i didn't bring anything.
everyone else did. some people brought desserts, but the hostess had made a dessert from scratch, and so the "brung" desserts were not served. i personally do not see the point of bringing something when you weren't asked to and then the thing you brought not being served. but if that's what people do, i guess i'd comply because i don't want to be rude.
just an example of social conventions overriding practicality and sincerity. being pathologically honest but perpetually diplomatic, i'm conflicted. did i commit a faux pas? does it really matter much if i did? aren't i close enough friends with the hostess for that not to matter? or am i presuming too much to consider myself "special" in that respect? i am also operating under the presumption that she is so cool that she truly would not care; would that be presuming too much as well?
wait. oh yeah. i brought a pound of butter. 'cause she asked me to. and she did ask me because i am special. or because i happened to be closest.
i don't think bringing butter counts though.
the end.
posted by CamoBunny at 21:20
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4 comments
4 Comments:
I think you did the right thing, especially if the other desserts weren't served. Once I ordered a fancy cake from an upscale bakerty to serve at a party I was throwing. My aunt obviously wanted to contribute and brought a store bought carrot cake. We felt obligated to serve it, but didn't really want to.
I say if you really want to bring something and they don't want food you can bring a hostess gift, like a candle or soap or coasters or something. Is that weird? That's what I've seen my family members do.
Anyways, a belated Happy Easter. AND I do think bringing the butter counted. It was more helpful than what others brought.
4/17/2006 03:57:00 AM
if it were me, and i were hosting such a fete, and i had explicitly told people AT LEAST TWICE that i did not want them to bring anything, and still they brought things, i would probably be at least a bit surprised. presumably i were hosting this get-together as a gift to my friends, and presumably i had thought ahead to the dessert component of the meal, and the fact that two of the invitees brought desserts would leave me feeling somewhat perplexed. perhaps, if it were me, i might have been a bit rude to not serve the other desserts, but presumably the made-from-scratch dessert would take precedence over the store-bought varieties? if it were me, i would be extremely thankful that i could count on at least ONE of my guests to help out in a pinch and bring the only thing i really needed (or wanted), namely, butter.
4/17/2006 08:27:00 AM
butter completely counts.
4/17/2006 09:00:00 AM
upon further consideration i am of the opinion that if explicitly told not to bring anything (food-wise), it is kinda rude to bring something. i felt that the menu had most likely been planned carefully and why would i be so self-important as to assume that i ought to change that plan by bringing something? i hold my head up high and feel as though i did the right thing.
and most certainly does the made-from-scratch and planned dessert take precedence over the unsolicited brought desserts. it is, therefore, not rude to leave the store-bought desserts in the fridge where they belong. it is, after all, the hostess' prerogative as to what to serve at her own party.
so there.
(she said in agreement)
at most i might bring flowers. i used to do that often. i stopped when i got poor.
4/17/2006 09:08:00 AM
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