Are We Back in the 50s?

Published on October 13, 2004 By JillUser In Home & Family

I was reading through my November issue of Redbook last night and came across an article about entertaining. One of the statements in the article was "A good host greets guests at the door with a cocktail and a warm welcome". I guess I'm not a good host and have never been in the presence of one! My first thought was of the Home Economics class films I had to view about etiquette. They were from the 50s and always stated things like "A good housewife always listens to what her husband has to say first." Yikes!

I entertain fairly regularly. Matter of fact, I am entertaining this weekend. We often simply set out a wide selection of drinks and encourage our guests to help themselves. Does that make me a lesser host than "Ms Meet you at the door with a cocktail"?

Comments

crimson

on Oct 13, 2004

Nah. Maybe a more independent-think-for-yourself type. And we know how well they do at parties.

Cheers!

Floozie

on Oct 13, 2004

There's nothing worse than a host who is so concerned about doing everything 'right' that they don't enjoy themselves. Screw etiquette. Cocktails are always more fun when you all muck in and make them together.

More power to you!

dharmagrl

on Oct 13, 2004

P'raps we should all start wearinf poodle skirts, pointy bras and heels 24x7 too!

I think that a good hostess is one who makes you feel welcome and confortable in her home. That's all it takes. Someone who's at my elbow all the time would just give me the willies.

Hey, how come I didn't get invited to your 'entertaining'?! (i'm kidding...but you know that)

KarmaGirl

on Oct 13, 2004

We have an "open bar" at our house when we entertain (which, is how I got nominated for Thanksgiving for the next 20 years). I'd never have people over if I had to actually make drinks for them.

Heck, half the time I don't even great them at the door. I just yell "it's open!" or people just let themselves in because they know I don't care.

I guess I wouldn't be a good "hostess"

dharmagrl

on Oct 13, 2004

Heck, half the time I don't even great them at the door. I just yell "it's open!" or people just let themselves in because they know I don't care.

Hey, that's how I entertain as well!!!! If I like you enough ot have you over to my house, then you're welcome to just mosey on in...

Myrrander

on Oct 13, 2004

As long as there's beer in the fridge, my "guests" don't ever seem to mind.

WizardMark

on Oct 13, 2004

In the Philippines people value the visitors so much that they don't mind sleeping on the couch just to let foreigners have a comfortable time in their visit. That's what Filipinos are famous, hospitality-- too much and exaggerated hospitality that sometimes isn't good. They don't even know the real intention of the person yet they serve them as kings and queens. There were also instances that they don't use new glasswares unless a visitor arrives. How absurd, isn't it?

But even if there are many things I don't like about the Filipino culture, I will never be ashamed. I'm a Filipino by word and by heart! That's who we really are-- patriots!

JillUser

on Oct 13, 2004

In the Philippines people value the visitors so much that they don't mind sleeping on the couch just to let foreigners have a comfortable time in their visit.

I've done that too. If someone stays over after a cocktail party though, they are bound to be on the couch

If my guests can't mix their own drink they are just out of luck. We are serving margaritas Sat so they will just have to follow the sound of the blender

SSG Geezer

on Oct 13, 2004

P'raps we should all start wearinf poodle skirts, pointy bras and heels 24x7 too!

Yeah, that's the ticket. I mix the margaritas too Jill. if they want something else, they had better have brought it themselves.

JillUser

on Oct 13, 2004

The pointy bras are something I always found a bit scary and I broke my leg thanks to wearing heels in the house. Poodle skirts are cute though

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