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quotable_muse] April 2009 - 115 - Proper
Apr. 16th, 2009 08:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prodigalwatcherApril 2009 - 115 - "Hasn't your mother or anyone ever explained to you that some things are proper and some things are not?"
I'm from England and my family had some money, so of course she did. Over there, it's a bit difficult to sport a surname with as many letters and a hyphen as "Wyndam-Pryce" does without being just a bit on the upper-class side of things. Although we were hardly even remotely nobility, the family is old and very well-established and Father rarely let any of us forget that.
From a young age, I knew how I was expected to behave when interacting with my parents' friends and companions and in particular how I was to conduct myself in the presence of Father's fellow Watchers. I knew how to be quiet but pleasant at one of the few parties they attended, and I was well familiar with the subtle signal to leave the room so the adults could speak freely.
Both older and several thousands of miles away, I have mostly embraced the more casual, more permissive American philosophy of life. I have worn neither tie nor suit in ages, I call a person by whatever form of address they give me, and I never use thank you cards (although that last is more a function of opportunity than attitude).
However, one line I have decided is uncrossable. Even with a store-bought frozen entree on the table, I will not drink a red wine with fish or fowl.
A man has to have some standards.
(234)
I'm from England and my family had some money, so of course she did. Over there, it's a bit difficult to sport a surname with as many letters and a hyphen as "Wyndam-Pryce" does without being just a bit on the upper-class side of things. Although we were hardly even remotely nobility, the family is old and very well-established and Father rarely let any of us forget that.
From a young age, I knew how I was expected to behave when interacting with my parents' friends and companions and in particular how I was to conduct myself in the presence of Father's fellow Watchers. I knew how to be quiet but pleasant at one of the few parties they attended, and I was well familiar with the subtle signal to leave the room so the adults could speak freely.
Both older and several thousands of miles away, I have mostly embraced the more casual, more permissive American philosophy of life. I have worn neither tie nor suit in ages, I call a person by whatever form of address they give me, and I never use thank you cards (although that last is more a function of opportunity than attitude).
However, one line I have decided is uncrossable. Even with a store-bought frozen entree on the table, I will not drink a red wine with fish or fowl.
A man has to have some standards.
(234)
