Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/99540
Regrets Only by MARGARET DICKSON MORE magazine bills itself for women of "style and substance," which, in translation, means women older than the crowd that reads Glamour and any number of similar fashion publications. The MORE publisher would certainly count me within its target demographic, which seems to be women less interested in mini-skirts and green eye shadow and more interested in good health and longevity. That would definitely be me. MORE also runs some clever pieces and handy tips, including this holiday season, Linda Yellin's column on the etiquette of "re-gifting," not that you or I would ever consider such a thing. Jenny Allen also weighs in with her take on the virtues and vices of various social occasions, holiday and otherwise. Allen's piece is entitled "Please don't invite me." She loves parties, among them "boozy Christmas cocktail parties," and New Year's Eve dos, even though they start late and last long. She likes nursery-school graduations and is fond of sugary sheet cakes. She wants to go to baby showers, bingo nights, magic shows and, inexplicably, bowling parties, particularly if the bowlers are using Day Glo balls. Allen does not want to be included in outings to athletic events, macrobiotic dinners, investment parties where someone suggests what to do with your money over wine and cheese and memorial services lasting two hours or more. That is "75 minutes too long, no matter how accomplished and fabulous the dead person was." All of which made me think of the kinds of gatherings I do enjoy and the ones that are just killers, at least for me. I pretty much agree with Allen on her list of "don't invites," although I love a fast-paced college basketball game, especially if it goes into at least one overtime. I have a few more. Please don't invite me to a science fiction or cartoon movie, one involving car chases that send vehicles barreling through the air or one with spies who are so taciturn and secretive that I cannot tell what is going on at all. I am also not interested in events in people's homes where I am suddenly expected to buy something — books, lingerie, plastic bowls with lids, handmade craft items or miraculous gadgets. Deathly as well are events where guests sit and watch, ooohing and aaahing appropriately, as the birthday celebrant/bride and groom/mother- and-daddy-to-be open presents and hug and kiss the givers. I am delighted for all these honorees and wish them all well in my heart and with my gifts. I just do not want to sit through all the unwrapping. Nor do I want to attend parties that begin closer to midnight than to the dinner hour — they are way, way past my pajama-book time. I am also not keen on events that involve some sort of athletic skill — roller skating, rock climbing, golfing, water skiing, break dancing and such — in which I have little experience and no expertise. Ditto for any event that involves wandering around, one that lasts much more than two hours or one that is so loud I cannot hear the person next to me speak. Exclude me from performances or talent-show events where the artists should have chosen another field. It is simply too embarrassingly painful to watch them. Please do invite me to potluck dinners. There is nothing better than "other people's food," and I have folders of recipes that came from friends who vouch for their goodies. Learning about other people, other families and other cultures is never easier than spending time over their favorites foods and observing how they are shared and served. Please do invite me to family occasions. Love them or tolerate them and individuals notwithstanding, families are on life journeys together. Joys, sorrows and snippings are all in the family and become the legends that sustain and outlive all of us. Please do invite me to quirky events — magic shows, fortunetellers, tarot readers, astrologers and the like. We all want to know the unknowable, and I am always fascinated that people profess to understand the workings of the human heart and to see our futures. It is also remarkable that whatever the discipline — cards or stars, many of the practitioners say much the same thing. And, like Jenny Allen, I do enjoy a holiday cocktail party if there are plenty of interesting people and lots of foods I would never dream of preparing, much less eating, at home. 'Tis the season" for these, of course, and I hope to enjoy several! In the meantime, whether your inclination is to party hearty or to stay home by a warm fire, have a wonderful holiday season shared MARGARET DICKSON, Conwith those you love. tributing Writer, COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. Plan Your Holiday Parties Now! Pr Private Parties from 20 to 100 1304 Morganton Rd. Mon-Sat: 6am-10pm Sun: 7am-3pm Fresh Seafood Hand Cut Steaks Homemade Desserts Authentic Greek & Italian Cuisine ne 484-0261 Serving Fayetteville Over 50 Years! Merry Christmas from Up & Coming Weekly WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 19-25, 2012 UCW 5