- Easter Lunch
The sun hadn’t broken through the cloud cover yet, but by noon yesterday it felt warm and inviting outside – nice enough to have lunch al fresco. I was late getting to the table and, as I stepped outside, Nyel asked if I’d grab his Panama hat and bring it along.
“It’s Easter,” he said, “I can wear white now.”
I didn’t bother to say that I thought the sartorial rule was “after Memorial Day but not after Labor Day.” I love it when he wears that hat. He looks so handsome in it!
Not that anyone bothers about that bit of etiquette any more these days. I sort of remember that we gave lip-service to it in the 1950s, but only with regard to shoes and gloves. And probably purses. It just wasn’t ‘done’ to accessorize in white before Memorial Day. It may have applied to clothing as well but I don’t remember any of us wearing much white at any time of year. Too easily soiled, I guess.
My Uncle Willard was known for wearing white suits, even in the 1970s and ‘80s. I never paid much attention to the time of year he wore them, but I think it was probably summer. That’s when our calendars seemed to converge. He always looked immaculate and I wondered, even then, how he managed it.
Our outdoor luncheon was lovely. It had been a clam weekend so there were lots of tourists in town but they all left us alone. No one bellied up to our fence to ask us questions or comment on our garden. Of course, the garden isn’t worth comment just now. But anyway, we enjoyed the uninterrupted lunch date. I hope it was the first of many to come now that the Panama hat season has arrived here in Oysterville!
Sydney, you are right on all counts, most especially about the hat. I always heard Memorial Day, but as a child my new Easter shoes were generally white whereas the Christmas ones were black patent leather. I’ve pushed my darker, heaver dresses to the back of the closet and am taking my wool coat to the cleaner’s to get ready to sit until fall. It feels good to be able to eat out-of-doors on the odd day with the promis of more to come! Spring is definitely in the air!!