Great Gatsby

What fun. We were invited to a party in honor of my sister in law. My brother, her husband, was hosting a costume party down town. A party limo was to pick us up at the hotel and drive us for cocktails to her parents then back down town for dinner. The theme of the Party was The Great Gatsby, 1920's



I had found a dress that was very flapper in style on sale a few months ago. I loved it when I found it and bought it for no particular reason other than it fit. It is so fun when you already have the perfect dress, no stress. I have a black velvet dress coat that belonged to my great grandmother, potentially, with a white sable hood. It is gorgeous. It does need to be relined. The silk lining is frayed and torn and thread bear. It almost tears if you breath on it. The velvet is in beautiful condition. It looks perfect if you don't notice the lining. I keep it in plastic except about twice a year when I bring it out to play princess at costume parties or during the holidays for extremely special events. I found in my closet a matching velvet hat with a huge beautiful silver broach, all authentic. Nothing like being a member of a family that doesn't throw anything out. I have it all.



I had a few more hats at one time. A very dear friend of mine is a true collector of vintage items. I gave her the others as gifts. I knew she would care for them better than I would. Probably not wear them to get thrashed at costume parties. She keeps them displayed or in vintage boxes, to be opened and admired upon occasion, always pristine. I kept the ones I knew I would wear and use, pardon the thought of using the real vintage stuff.



I destroyed a flapper dress once wearing it to a party. The threads on the dress were so fragile, and the beads so heavy, The dress started to disintegrate during the evening. I left little black beads where ever I went. I should never have worn it. I probably destroyed a museum piece. But it went with love. So I knew better than to keep anything too fragile, only a few things that I knew I might like to wear. The hat with the giant broach was perfect and went with the velvet coat perfectly. Nylons and the suedo flapper dress that would not disintegrate while I wore it and I was set.




Tom got into the act with a vintage hat. He put on a black shirt with a white tie and black jacket. looking like he just stepped out of a speak easy. We were to have nick names. Mine was Sweetie and he was Truman after Truman Capone, the writer.







I had to work the day of the party, so I didn't change until late in the day. It is hard to help people try on shoes in a short dress and nylons. I didn't need to flash my customers. It was also hard for them to take me seriously when dressed in costume. I am trying to convince a woman that she has to give up fashion shoes for lace up athletic wear to get rid of the foot pain, while wearing a giant vintage hat and flashing a lot of inappropriate thigh exposure. I didn't stick around long once in costume.







The mall was having its own costume ball that day, so I didn't look out of place. I did receive many admiring comments. One gentleman said I looked very authentic. I should, it was all real.







I met Tom at his work which is just down the road from mine. We left my car in his lot, which is theoretically a guarded area. It is tucked away from the main road, so safer than leaving mine parked overnight at the mall. I had gotten permission though to leave it if I needed. The mall security had me take a picture of the car and the license so they would know that the car was OK to leave overnight for this one time exception.







Tom had four outfits with him. He had been undecided so he had brought all his options with him. I had made reservations at the hotel for overnight. Neither Tom nor I like to drink and drive. A hotel room is so much cheaper and safer in the long run. He wanted the room to try out his costumes. I had left ties and hats out for him to choose, he had brought his favorite from the selection. He said only one hat fit so there wasn't much choice involved. The hats were all hand me downs from family over the years. Costume accessories for my boys.







We pull up to the hotel. The Hotel is new and old at the same time. It is an old department store that has been converted to multi purpose. It used to be the old Fredrick and Nelson, then it was Meyer and Frank. Now downstairs is Macy's. The hotel doesn't start until the eighth floor. It is four stories. A modern art deco restaurant and bar is on the top floor, decorated as if you are in a 1950 airport. Wrong vintage for our evening . We are to meet everyone on the eighth floor at the bar in the center. All the interior hotel rooms look down on the bar area. The floor are a dark wood, the place is set up with private sitting areas through out. We gather in one of those areas.







I didn't want to be late. I have been peaking out our hotel room window to see if I can recognize anyone. Our room is in the corner, one story up from the bar. I have received a discount rate of $129. When I made the reservations and told the concierge we need the room so we didn't drink and drive, he said there is a local "Oregonian" rate. I was pleased. The room is delightful. It has a small sink by the closet in the room. The bed is King size, with plenty of room all the way around it. There is a desk tucked into an alcove, also with a view of the atrium area below. The bathroom is spacious and completely marble, including the glassed in double sized shower, with a rain bath shower head. I love it.



I don't know how many are coming to the party. I see no one looking like they are from the 1920's, as I peak out our window from above, overlooking the whole area. I encourage Tom to hurry and dress so we can get to the bar and meet everyone. We end up being the first to arrive.



We order Pino Noir. Its $15 a glass. I get two bottles from Fred Meyer's for that kind of money. Well, we are here to party, but I realize why Tom and I don't have a social life or go out very often. We are just too damn expensive. Hotel rooms on top of cocktails and lovely dinners. A night out for us is $500 easy. That is how much we spent on our anniversary in August. I guess we just have to realize we can only afford to go out once a quarter rather than the recommended quality time of once a week that all the articles say is healthy for a marriage. But then they don't consider the hotel rooms and heavy drinking involved when they write those articles.



I don't drink normally. I have always been a social drinker. I used to have the occasional glass of wine with Tom after work, but it is rare I do that anymore. I can always tell the next day and the day after that, if I have cocktails.



At the bar, Tom takes a call from his brother on the cell. They start talking betting. I can't tell if it is horses or football, but he looks so authentic gangster, even down to the conversation. A gambling man out with his babe, headed to the speak easy to do some illegal activities.

I see another woman wondering the bar dressed in a floor length gown and a boa around her neck. She has her hair up in an intricate knot and a black silk rose tucked into her hair with a black feather flowing over the top of her hair. She has to be with us. I wave her over. Her made up name is Rosie for the evening. I find out her children go to school with my nieces in Bend. She has a big camera and is the official photgrapher for the evening.



We are all wound up and excited. Another couple joins us. They are all in white. Lydia is beautiful in a cream lace gown. Her husband is in a matching white suit to co ordinate their attire. They look ready for a garden tea party. It is easy to know the people as they arrive. Everyone looks like they just stepped out of time, like that Christopher Reeves movie, where he goes back in time and falls in love. Lydia works at a horse farm and takes care of Polo ponies in Eastern Oregon.

Graham and Heidi arrive. Another round of cocktails are ordered for everyone. Heidi is in a golden slip dress overlaid with black lace. She has a black lace hat on her head. Graham has rented a vintage suit all in white. He says they had to put together different pieces from different suites of different eras, but it all looks good. He has a white vest on under his jacket. He looks like he is off the tennis courts when they used to be played on grass lawns. He is grinning from ear to ear. He had sent out an e mail to all of us that they would be incognito as Babes and Peaches. Heidi looked good enough to eat. She said she had ordered her dress off the Internet.



All the women had long strands of pearls draped around their necks. Tory wore a three quarter length black cocktail dress with a stole. She had a gold lame scarf around her neck and a big gold belt. She reminded me of Scarlet making her gown out of drapes to trick the guards into letting her see Rett in jail. She looked lovely, and ready to party.



One couple was late, so we were waiting on them. They were driving over from Bend. Once they arrived we headed downstairs where the party limo was waiting. The bus/limo was the size of those mini school buses. Inside were plush couches and built in ice buckets filled with champagne and beers. Wine glasses were hanging from racks below the ice buckets, all strategically located.
Big screens were at both ends of the bus for karaoke. Though we didn't quite get the music totally together.

The first karaoke singer was a male friend of Graham's. Tom said after this guy sang, it would be OK if I sang. For those who have not heard me sing, I got cut off at the club on my first karaoke experience. I was too painful to listen to for the audience. In grade school I was asked by the music teacher to mouth the words as I tended to throw off the chorus. Luckily the opportunity did not arise for me to take the mike, the trip wasn't that long. We all laughed and cheered the whole time.

We drove out to "Peaches" parents' home. They have a lovely big place. They were waiting for us at the door. They were also in appropriate attire. Bill wore a plaid vest and Tina wore a beaded gown that had belonged to her mother when her mother was young and slender and beautiful.

Bill served up a pitcher of Lemon drops into martini glasses. They were delectable. We also were served ord oeuvres that melted in your mouth. There were stuffed pastries wrapped around whole olives. There was bacon wrapped around water chestnuts, my personal favorite. There was melted brie on french toast. The lemon drop cocktails made a second round.

We were now up to five cocktails this evening, two at the bar, champagne in the bus, maybe two champagnes, and now the lemon drops. I could not hold my second delightful lemon drop steady enough not to spill a little over the side. A testament to how much I had consumed. I hated to waste any, it was really good.

After the the cocktail party, we got back in the bus for more champagne and the ride to dinner. Dinner was in one of the high sky scrapers of the city. There was an incredible view from the windows. Tom ordered a bottle of wine with dinner. We order and the food arrives. I am so full of liquid refreshment at this point, I am only slightly hungry.

Midway through my dinner, my sister realizes it is almost midnight. She told the sitter she would be home at 11:00pm. She leaps up from the table and excuses herself from the party. Tom tells me I should walk her to her car. Of course. I leave with her, intending to come right back.

Well, we get lost walking. We are talking and walking and circling the blocks. That walk probably saved me from a worse hang over than I knew I was already in for. It took us a half hour at least to find her car. Tom was texting me asking where we were. I walk with confidence and I was in no mood to be hastled so I felt completely comfortable with my situation, besides my sister and I were having an intense conversation about life. She had really parked only a block away, but we had come out of the tower and turned on the wrong street, who knows, we could have walked by the place and not even known, getting disoriented in the process. She finally did find her car and made it home safely.

I walked the one block back to the restaurant only to find the elevators were closed, as it was so late. I couldn't get back upstairs. Tom was in the lobby. He had come down for a smoke and was worried about me taking so long. He couldn't get back upstairs either. I called "Babes" on the cell and let him know we did not mean to boge out on the dinner, but that we were stuck downstairs.

The rest of the party joined us shortly. I had taken so long walking my sister the one block to her car, they had been able to finish dinner. I was sorry to have missed some of the party, but just as well I didn't drink any more.

We caught a taxi back to the hotel with "Peaches" parents. Tom suggested we go up to the bar on the top floor and check it out. We hadn't seen it yet. We all ride up the elevator. The bar is closing . We are the only ones in the place. It is decorated with frosted glass and oval chairs. I can still barely focus. We sit and tell Bill and Tina about our wedding toast. It is one of Tom's favorite stories. At our wedding, we did tequila shots with salt and lime. He orders the drinks so we can show Tina and Bill. We can't even keep the limes in our mouths while doing the toasts. The shots go down way too easily. I have never had tequila that smooth. I need to find out what it was because it was good tequila.

I have a souvenir martini glass from the party that Tina had brought for me. I pick it up from the table and accidentally drop it. It sends glass shards scattering. At that point we all decide it is time to go. Thank goodness we are already in our hotel. Tom and I get off on the tenth floor and I can only hope Tina and Bill made it safely to their destination.

Tom and I collapse on the king size bed. I don't know quite how long later, but I did have the need to get up and expunge some of the fluids from the nights alcoholic binge. Early in the wee hours I hear Tom doing the same thing.

I wake at nine in the morning knowing I need to be at work at 11:00am. I call work at ten, while still lying in bed, to let them know we might be a little late. I get up and shower, then nudge Tom, letting him know we need to get going. He is not pleased, but he can sleep at home just as well. He has to check out at noon anyway. He tells me at first I will be driving. To be honest I am not sure i am capable, as I stumble around our room picking things up and packing.

When we get down to the car, having called for valet and check out over the phone, he does take the keys to drive. I climb into the passenger seat and recline it as far back as it goes, curling up with my head tucked. Buying those last few minutes of time to recover before we get to my work. I am grateful that Tom is driving.

By the time we get my car from his work lot and I drive over to my work, I feel a little better. The aspirin I took before leaving the hotel has helped, enough that I can muddle through the day without vomiting on anyone, and still put on a fairly cheerful face. I knew there was a reason I wasn't drinking much anymore. I just got another reminder, but it sure was a fun party. Now I just have to pay the Piper, as they say.