Elusive Diversions

elusive exclusivity – hey, it rhymes

So I am all set to graduate in December of this year, right before Christmas, as long as what my advisors say is correct. But, what does one do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Oral Communication Studies, a minor in English and hopefully another in French? Well, my goal is to teach. Outside of Texas. Preferably on the East Coast. More preferably still, overseas.

It’s been a long while since my last post, mainly because I’ve been busy moving and planning a two week vacation. Though I have tons I want to write about, everything, till now, would take a lot of sitting and thinking that I just don’t have time for.

But, since Saturday I’ve been increasingly frustrated at something in the media that I want to quickly toss out here: Royal Etiquette.

This past Saturday marked not only the Kentucky Derby but also an unprecedented visit by the Queen of England at the annual equestrian event. Apparently, according to CNN, some of the Churchill Downs employees had to take lessons in etiquette: “To prepare for the royal visit, a number of Churchill Downs workers took etiquette lessons, and the lead chef planned a sumptuous meal featuring a variety of Kentucky ingredients.” (found here.)

If that wasn’t enough, I heard on the news this morning that in preparation for a White House State Dinner there are a few more elements of etiquette being discussed such as “when the Queen stops eating, everyone must stop eating.”

My frustration is this…

1. I know that we Americans leave a lot to be desired in the ways of manners or etiquette, but some of that is just the way we are – it’s our own values and customs that make us America.
2. Last I recall, we were no longer under British rule. Something around the year 1776 makes me think that… Oh… what was it… The Revolutionary War?
3. Finally, whenever I travel, I try to blend in with the area – be it another state or another country. For instance, when I visit France I do my best to speak French (as poorly as I do it, it has rendered me more assistance than behaving like a brute Texan, as some I know).

I respect that we as a nation are being asked to respect the Queen – I think it’s in fact admirable that we actually are doing so. But at the same time, why can’t the Queen be asked to respect our culture?

Last week, as I purged the unwanted demons of my marriage past from around my apartment, an old printout of the receipt from my evening at a London production of Chicago – starring Brooke Shields – appeared on my desk, seemingly out of nowhere. Normally, this item wouldn’t require more thought than a reminiscent “Oh, look at that,” comment; however, on the reverse side I found a few paragraphs I had written upon my experiences having just left Bath Spa, a town about an hour and a half train ride outside of London (a.k.a., Bath)

It occurred to me that not only were these my recollections – in fact, I haven’t even read through it yet since discovering it – but that they were written during my first business trip alone (second altogether) to London, during the early stages of the breakdown of my marriage. Though I said I haven’t read through it yet, I do remember that I had many emotions tied to what I wrote based on being alone. Even though it was a tough time in my life, it was also filled with the experiences I was lucky enough to enjoy as the designer assigned to our European brands – something I tried to milk as much out of as possible, taking side trips when I could afford to. So, I look back on that period as a conflicted time for me – filled with both the good and bad – which is probably why I chose to write the following on the back of that theatre receipt: