In these gloomy times, I’m delighted to see Muriel and Georgette, representing, as they do,
the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ballard Street Social Betterment Society, advocating for a lighter mood.
I give them credit for wanting to see smiles replacing frowns, and perhaps even a slight giggle allowed to escape into polite conversation.
This is, however, a rare relaxation of the standards which have always governed the B.S.S.B.S….
which has always stood for a degree of decorum that disallows any level of wild abandon.
At first glance, indeed, I thought this was a rather stunning about-face for the stern ladies of the Auxiliary…
But then I realised… Muriel and Georgette are two of the younger members.
It’s no longer your mother’s L.A. of the B.S.S.B.S.
Especially in the middle of the national epidemic of melancholy that accompanies the health crisis,…
they are beginning to understand that Social Betterment can encompass a bit of joy and … dare I say it?…even frivolity…
without sinking into depravity and loose morals.
However… if you do plan to attend one of their afternoon teas, or even an evening soiree…
if you can wangle an invitation…
do remember that they are calling for a “modicum” of gaiety…
perhaps a bit… more likely, a suspicion of it… a soupçon, as it were.
NOT a smattering, certainly not a full-fledged burst…
So it would NOT be the place for you to unveil your new barefoot, clothing-optional, twirling, twerking, happy-dance.
In these gloomy times, I’m delighted to see Muriel and Georgette, representing, as they do,
the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ballard Street Social Betterment Society, advocating for a lighter mood.
I give them credit for wanting to see smiles replacing frowns, and perhaps even a slight giggle allowed to escape into polite conversation.
This is, however, a rare relaxation of the standards which have always governed the B.S.S.B.S….
which has always stood for a degree of decorum that disallows any level of wild abandon.
At first glance, indeed, I thought this was a rather stunning about-face for the stern ladies of the Auxiliary…
But then I realised… Muriel and Georgette are two of the younger members.
It’s no longer your mother’s L.A. of the B.S.S.B.S.
Especially in the middle of the national epidemic of melancholy that accompanies the health crisis,…
they are beginning to understand that Social Betterment can encompass a bit of joy and … dare I say it?…even frivolity…
without sinking into depravity and loose morals.
However… if you do plan to attend one of their afternoon teas, or even an evening soiree…
if you can wangle an invitation…
do remember that they are calling for a “modicum” of gaiety…
perhaps a bit… more likely, a suspicion of it… a soupçon, as it were.
NOT a smattering, certainly not a full-fledged burst…
So it would NOT be the place for you to unveil your new barefoot, clothing-optional, twirling, twerking, happy-dance.