Sunday, April 26, 2009

Reunion Night

Friday night we attended my husband's 20th class reunion in Atlanta. I have met a handful of his classmates, but not enough to feel entirely comfortable or confident going in...and I had a fashion crisis.

Everything about the invitation seemed to indicate that this was a cocktail party so I packed accordingly. As we arrived at my in-laws' to unpack and change (with lass than 20 minutes to spare), my husband took a phone call from an old classmate who mentioned he was wearing jeans. We really thought he was joking. He assured us he was not kidding.

Thankfully, the party was only a few blocks from my in-laws', so we sent Granddaddy on a reconnaissance mission. What a great father-in-law....willing to look like a gawking stalker in order to help me avoid a major fashion faux pas! He called back with a full report--and it was not cocktail. My husband was able to take off his tie and immediately look more casual...but my off the shoulder cocktail dress with shiny appliques did not give me any room to dress down.

The only back-up plan I had was the casual cotton babydoll sundress I had brought for our return drive home Saturday morning. Unbelievably, it seemed this was more appropriate than my planned attire. The second problem was shoes. I had a pair of metallic shoes with very high heels intended for my cocktail attire and a very beat up pair of brown flip flops.

I decided to go with the dressy shoes and casual dress.

I have to admit I went from having an excited feeling about the evening to a bad attitude and feelings of dread...all over outfit choices. I knew it was ridiculous, but I wanted to feel comfortable and confident. I wanted to be dressed appropriately. I wanted to look and feel like I fit in.

I suddenly went from attending a high school reunion, to feeling like I was in high school all over again.

God gave me a little nudging to get over my superficial self and go enjoy an evening with my husband. It also added some much needed humor when I overheard my mother-in-law say to my father-in-law, "I was going to give the children some chocolate cake, but it seems they have been drinking coffee all afternoon." I was so validated.

My attire wound up not being that far out of line and we had a wonderful evening...until one of those metallic heels got wedged in a vent in our hosts' home requiring two men to free it...but that is another post for another day.

11 comments:

twiceasnice said...

LOL on the heels...you have the best stories, and i bet you looked so cute....you are beautiful in the inside and out! Don't forget it! Hope the kids had fun with the grandparents...i'm sure they looked cute in their pj's too! Hope your week goes awesome! It's almost May...and the crazy end of the school year!

Tonya Ingram said...

Where's the pictures? I KNOW you have some... :)

Liz said...

I can't wait to hear the story about the heels. I can really relate to the feeling that you felt, though...how being around HS friends takes you back to HS. Scary how much the approval of others can change the way we feel, isn't it?

Jennifer said...

I actually do not have any pictures. I'll watch the reunion website to see if any turn up. It wasn't nearly as funny in the moment as it was in retrospect that night!

k and c's mom said...

Great post. You are so good at expressing what we all feel but usually just keep muddled up inside. An unexpected last minute change of wardrobe DOES feel like an emergency! Glad you ended up having fun. Listen, at the 30th, no one CARES how you look!

Colored With Memories said...

you poor thing...you were such a good sport though and i'm sure you looked great! i would have bailed!

georgiamom said...

Your father in law does seem wonderful. Everytime I see him I just want to pinch his cheeks. He just seems so warm and loving.
That is the best story. I hate not feeling comfortable with what I'm wearing!! Sounds like you took it in stride---fancy metallic heel stuck in vent stride :)

Maria(h) said...

-the most appropriate thing I can think of is, "bless your heart."

sounds like you handled it well. I would have pouted all night and been a major pain in the a**. Good lesson in keeping a sense of humor.

Traci said...

That's a hard one. I'm glad it worked out- no picture of the outfit?

Paulette said...

I cannot even relate, never even have yet to wear a dress, but oh one day I hope to.
I am in the process of a consultation with a surgeon about the bariatric surgery. It looks as if the doors may be opening this time, I pray so! It is such a deep desire.
I am so glad you eneded up having a marvelous time, you so deserve it J mom!

Amy said...

Your story encourages me - I've been there before too.
Can't wait to hear about the shoes in the vent.
Amy@balmingilead.typepad.com