Comments on: Gracious me! http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/ Celebrating Women of Style and Substance Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:05:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Geri http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-944 Geri Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:32:19 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-944 LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

]]> By: Nancy http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-943 Nancy Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:25:45 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-943 I will not identify myself in a way that they would know me. It is so exciting because they will all be thrilled for us and we will have so much fun planning the surprise for them. I will not identify myself in a way that they would know me. It is so exciting because they will all be thrilled for us and we will have so much fun planning the surprise for them.

]]> By: Duchesse http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-927 Duchesse Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:46:44 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-927 Great topic. My mother was gracious, but insincere. Her graciousness was quite a thick veneer. But her real nature was mean, manipulative and emotionally cold. People who knew her socially adored her, but her children tried to defend themselves until they could leave. So I'm all for graciousness, but only if it comes from the heart. If one does not sincerely care about others I'd rather have them be blunt, insensitive or aggressive, rather than phony. Toby, you make some excellent points. And I have known gracious men in the business world- not many but they exist. Great topic. My mother was gracious, but insincere. Her graciousness was quite a thick veneer. But her real nature was mean, manipulative and emotionally cold. People who knew her socially adored her, but her children tried to defend themselves until they could leave.

So I’m all for graciousness, but only if it comes from the heart. If one does not sincerely care about others I’d rather have them be blunt, insensitive or aggressive, rather than phony.

Toby, you make some excellent points. And I have known gracious men in the business world- not many but they exist.

]]> By: Susan http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-926 Susan Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:41:24 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-926 Oh my goodness. I just wrote a lengthy essay (that needs to be refined--in the other sense of the word:) & will spare you. Let's just say this really hit me. Hard. Oh my goodness. I just wrote a lengthy essay (that needs to be refined–in the other sense of the word:) & will spare you. Let’s just say this really hit me. Hard.

]]> By: Geri http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-925 Geri Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:07:49 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-925 Hi Nancy, But what if your friends read FOF? Geri Hi Nancy,

But what if your friends read FOF?

Geri

]]> By: Nancy http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-922 Nancy Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:22:45 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-922 I am looking forward to the launch of FOF! WooHoo for you! And I would love to write about my proposal for FOF - It is actually going to be a 'surprise wedding' with only the two of us knowing what's happening until the last minute, so writing on my blog might spoil the surprise for any of my friends reading. I am looking forward to the launch of FOF! WooHoo for you! And I would love to write about my proposal for FOF – It is actually going to be a ‘surprise wedding’ with only the two of us knowing what’s happening until the last minute, so writing on my blog might spoil the surprise for any of my friends reading.

]]> By: Beccy http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-921 Beccy Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:37:11 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-921 From the very beginning we've taught our children the art of being gracious. To this day they do not forget to send a thank you note (maybe this comes from not being allowed to play with their new toys until that note was written). They are the first to RSVP to a party, and surprise their friends parents when they show up with a small gift when invited for dinner. These skills are "taught" over and over again in our daily lives by the way we treat each other. Old fashion, maybe, but graciousness is just a part of our life. Imagine a strangers surprise when confronted with a 19 year old boy, dressed entirely in black smiling and holding the door for them or standing when a women enters the room. And I love watching peoples reactions to my 16 year old daughter when she says please and thank you or looks them in the eye when talking with them . . . or takes the arm of her 80 year old grandmother when walking her to the car. Yes, there was a time when my kids were teased about their manners, but no longer. And the best reward for me as a parent? When my children thank me for "teaching them manners"! FOF women are gracious examples of how to live! From the very beginning we’ve taught our children the art of being gracious. To this day they do not forget to send a thank you note (maybe this comes from not being allowed to play with their new toys until that note was written). They are the first to RSVP to a party, and surprise their friends parents when they show up with a small gift when invited for dinner. These skills are “taught” over and over again in our daily lives by the way we treat each other. Old fashion, maybe, but graciousness is just a part of our life.
Imagine a strangers surprise when confronted with a 19 year old boy, dressed entirely in black smiling and holding the door for them or standing when a women enters the room. And I love watching peoples reactions to my 16 year old daughter when she says please and thank you or looks them in the eye when talking with them . . . or takes the arm of her 80 year old grandmother when walking her to the car. Yes, there was a time when my kids were teased about their manners, but no longer. And the best reward for me as a parent? When my children thank me for “teaching them manners”!
FOF women are gracious examples of how to live!

]]> By: Maravonda http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Maravonda Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:03:26 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-914 A young lady at work who is our Physician's Assistant...well educated, well spoken, recently married...was appalled that a friend of hers was asking for wedding RSVPs by email. Our Emily said "What is wrong with her? When I got married, I bought Emily Post and learned to do things the proper way!". That's my girl! A young lady at work who is our Physician’s Assistant…well educated, well spoken, recently married…was appalled that a friend of hers was asking for wedding RSVPs by email. Our Emily said “What is wrong with her? When I got married, I bought Emily Post and learned to do things the proper way!”. That’s my girl!

]]> By: LPC http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-912 LPC Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:18:10 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-912 The question is how to be both gracious AND powerful. The question is how to be both gracious AND powerful.

]]> By: Toby Wollin http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-911 Toby Wollin Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:29:47 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-911 I'm thinking that a lot of graciousness for those of us who are over fifty got beaten out of us when we went to work in the 70s and early 80s and we found that a) no one was going to be nice to us, b) that if we were nice, it was misconstrued as weakness and we were overlooked and walked on, and c) that it did not pay off. I think a lot of women saw that the women around them or that they knew who got ahead and 'made it' were not gracious, not kind, not thoughtful, did not look out for anyone but themselves, broke the rules, cheated, played by their own rules, 'jumped the line', left the messes for others to clean up, and so on. THAT (IMHO) is what happened to that part. The 'thank you notes, hand written letters, etc. got deep-sixed by email, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, et al. As for holding dinner parties of any sort (dressy or not) - I dream of the dinner and cocktail parties my parents used to throw on a monthly basis when I was a child. Their crowd entertained hugely; anyone who had a piano in their house and a livingroom floor big enough for couples to dance even in a small square was a prize location. They had friends who on a moment's notice (as long as a piano was available), could come up with people who could credibly play dance tunes or sing to stuff from the 1940s and 1950s, on piano, dixieland banjo, and guitar. One guy had his own jazz combo for years. My parents were either entertaining at our house, or off being entertained at someone else's house 2-3 times a month, every month from October through May, with June off, and summer parties starting up again on July 4th. Winter parties were very dressy, with Christmas and New Years being floor length. My only worry if I sent out invitations to a dinner party, that no one would know what to do or what to wear - sad. I’m thinking that a lot of graciousness for those of us who are over fifty got beaten out of us when we went to work in the 70s and early 80s and we found that a) no one was going to be nice to us, b) that if we were nice, it was misconstrued as weakness and we were overlooked and walked on, and c) that it did not pay off. I think a lot of women saw that the women around them or that they knew who got ahead and ‘made it’ were not gracious, not kind, not thoughtful, did not look out for anyone but themselves, broke the rules, cheated, played by their own rules, ‘jumped the line’, left the messes for others to clean up, and so on. THAT (IMHO) is what happened to that part. The ‘thank you notes, hand written letters, etc. got deep-sixed by email, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, et al. As for holding dinner parties of any sort (dressy or not) – I dream of the dinner and cocktail parties my parents used to throw on a monthly basis when I was a child. Their crowd entertained hugely; anyone who had a piano in their house and a livingroom floor big enough for couples to dance even in a small square was a prize location. They had friends who on a moment’s notice (as long as a piano was available), could come up with people who could credibly play dance tunes or sing to stuff from the 1940s and 1950s, on piano, dixieland banjo, and guitar. One guy had his own jazz combo for years. My parents were either entertaining at our house, or off being entertained at someone else’s house 2-3 times a month, every month from October through May, with June off, and summer parties starting up again on July 4th. Winter parties were very dressy, with Christmas and New Years being floor length. My only worry if I sent out invitations to a dinner party, that no one would know what to do or what to wear – sad.

]]> By: Geri http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-909 Geri Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:15:16 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-909 Hi Nancy, Congratulations. I absolutely remember your question. I'm thrilled for you and can't wait till you blog about it. Would love you to write about it for FOF. We launch on Thursday night and you'll be able to write about The Proposal in the Facts of Life section under Our Wisdom. You can also post a photo and link it to your blog. Best, Geri PS I knew I spelled epitome wrong on the gracious blog. I am going to correct it right now :) Hi Nancy,

Congratulations. I absolutely remember your question. I’m thrilled for you and can’t wait till you blog about it. Would love you to write about it for FOF. We launch on Thursday night and you’ll be able to write about The Proposal in the Facts of Life section under Our Wisdom.

You can also post a photo and link it to your blog.

Best,

Geri

PS I knew I spelled epitome wrong on the gracious blog. I am going to correct it right now :)

]]> By: Nancy http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-908 Nancy Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:04:19 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-908 Geri, I love the idea of graciousness. My mother and her sweet sisters were all the epitome of gracious southern ladies. I think many of us FOF learnt graciousness by examples of those special women in our lives. Thanks for this post! BTW, remember my question a few weeks ago about proposing to my man? I did it and....he said yes! I will be blogging about my proposal soon! Geri, I love the idea of graciousness. My mother and her sweet sisters were all the epitome of gracious southern ladies. I think many of us FOF learnt graciousness by examples of those special women in our lives. Thanks for this post! BTW, remember my question a few weeks ago about proposing to my man? I did it and….he said yes! I will be blogging about my proposal soon!

]]> By: Geri http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-907 Geri Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:04:37 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-907 Hi Amy, Thank you so much. :) Geri Hi Amy,

Thank you so much. :)

Geri

]]> By: Amy Ferris http://blog.faboverfifty.com/2010/02/15/3561/comment-page-1/#comment-906 Amy Ferris Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:34:34 +0000 http://blog.faboverfifty.com/?p=3561#comment-906 so very gorgeous! i love graciousness. thank you for writing that. so very gorgeous!
i love graciousness.
thank you for writing that.

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