Snubbed at The Merion Cricket Club
I decided to get in the holiday spirit today by attending the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Holiday Sale at The Merion Cricket Club. You know, one of those holiday boutiques with nary a crocheted Christmas tree angel in sight. One with $500 necklaces and $100 belts with sailboats on them. I figured it was for a good cause since 25% of all proceeds go to the hospital so I got dressed up, put on make-up and headed down the road to lunch and shop.
Inside the door I was met by women at the ticket table who looked like the two snobby blondes on " New Adventures of Old Christine." You know, the kind of women who only wear pink (cashmere) sweaters, designer jeans and loafers with some sort of insignia buckle. The sign said "Shopping $10, Shopping and Lunch $35. The conversation went something like this: Me: "Hi! I'd like to buy a shopping ticket, and would you please tell me about your lunch?" (I usually don't spend $25 on lunch but I was going to treat myself in the name of charity). Pinkie #1 "Oh, well the lunch is in the other building. Everyone has their tables set up." (so I'm thinking it must be like a potluck or something) Pinkie #2 "Yes, everyone already has their table so unless you have a friend who wants you at their table and is saving you a seat then you might not want to go over there."
Say what? Had I just been snubbed at the club? I had every intention of eating lunch by myself or asking to join someone who looked like they needed some holiday cheer. I don't mind eating by myself. I've been all over the world by myself. Surely they didn't mean to be mean. After all, they were working for charity, trying to raise money. I decided to give them an out. "Well, I'm new to town so I don't know many people." Their response? One of those "ummm/head tilts" so I handed them a ten dollar bill, put the twenty and five back in my wallet and walked away.
An hour later and still reeling from the snub I was walking across the Villanova campus to drop off a donation when a college kid in a red fleece Santa hat walked up to me, handed me a little candy cane and said "Happy Friday!"
Such has been my experience in Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love can also be The City of Brotherly Shove. It's bi-polar.
Someone in the parking lot will steal your spot but then when you go into the store the person in front of you will stand in the entrance for a minute so they can hold the door open for you long after they needed to linger. Someone will run you over with their shopping cart and then the person ahead of you in line will let you check out with your 3 items while they wait. They'll honk their horn non-stop if they think you don't hit the gas fast enough but leave a note if they scratch your car in the parking lot.
Most people won't respond to your "hellos" when they pass you on the street shoulder to shoulder but that doesn't stop me from doing it. I'm hoping to tip the Philadelphia's scales to the positive side one smile at a time. I think William Penn said it best... "Patience and diligence, like faith, remove mountains."
This is an original Philly Moms post. When Lollie isn't spreading Christmas cheer along The Main Line she also blogs at 50 Something Moms.
