The Last Conservative Couple?

Hubby and I attended a dinner party Friday night to celebrate the "big donators" for son's school's charity auction. I anticipated a group of 20-30 people, open house environment, etc. I was wrong. A total of eight people, including the host couple, were in attendance. I wore a black just below the knee length skirt, black and white top that tied in the back (you know those maternity shirts) and black shoes. The hosts' home was amazing - 85 years old, manor house looking, completely redone, obviously had a decorator (you know, had an animal print rug in the entry hall and a lot of other decorative touches). They had actually hired a chef to prepare tapas for us. And loads of good wine. I drank Perrier like it was going out of style.

So, Hubby and I approached this evening as a necessary evil. Neither of us is comfortable in really "social" situations. But this is our son's education. His school is a fabulous secular private school, associated with a private university in town. It is for 3 yr through 8th grade. Now, what to do after 8th grade? Where to go for high school? Our town has a good magnate public school and several good private schools. All but one of the good private schools is Catholic. I was raised Catholic but am not practicing nor do I have any religious beliefs. Additionally, after sending son to a Catholic school fall semester last year, we decided it is not for us. The public school situation is currently in flux and it is hard to predict what it will be like in 9 years' time. We anticipated the evening to include discussions on where to take the school for the future, what level of contributions are needed to sustain its current situation, what sort of capital campaign and marketing campaign to develop a high school.

Alas. Such discussions did not occur. We were highly disappointed.

Instead, we came to realize - yet again - that we are very conservative. I had not put my ample pregnancy breasts on display. Every single woman in attendance was showing cleavage, one even had her bra on display (inadvertently, I'm sure, but why even chance it? If in doubt, throw it out, right?). Later in the evening, we were all sitting outside in the cabana by the pool (how chi-chi does that sound) and chatting, drinking wine, etc., and one of the other wives leans over to the host and he starts rubbing her back, she grabs his knee. It's rather obvious they know each other. Is it me or is this slightly inappropriate behavior for such a function? Or is it me?

Hubby and I left the party shortly thereafter, slightly in shock. It was just 10:30 p.m. Wine had been free-flowing since 7 p.m. We have started to examine ourselves and wonder if we are members of a dying breed, the conservative social couple. I don't mean conservative politically, I mean conservative socially. We like each other and often would prefer to have each other in the conversation and partake of the conversation than to split up.

These are my son's classmates' parents, even a teacher. Does this affect my opinion of them? Yes. Does my behavior affect their opinion of me? I am sure it does. When I see them at future events, what will it be like? Comfortable / uncomfortable / no change at all? It remains to be seen. It should be interesting to discover.