Dressing up, dressing down

I read recently, maybe on the BBC site, that opera goers were being encouraged to 'dress down'. So I've been thinking about this.

When we go to a symphony concert or opera, I'm fine with whatever people choose to wear. But I really get a kick out of seeing those members of the audience who are dressed up. I mean, I can see people wearing jeans and tees any time, any day of the week, but how often do I get to see my fellow human beings all gussied up?

'Moonstruck' is one of my favourite movies. I can't imagine how it would be if the scenes of Cher beautifying herself and taking on a new lease of life were lost. Would the story work at all?

For me, too, I enjoy dressing up for an evening out. This lends a sense of occasion. I was going to write 'to my humdrum life', but that's not at all how I experience things on an everyday level. Nevertheless, when we have tickets booked for a special event, I love the sense of anticipation, the knowledge that we'll be swanning downtown to enjoy a performance.

Lifts the spirits, for sure. And don't we all need that from time to time?

Autumn in Gatineau

I first came to North America in late September, early autumn, so this time of year holds a special place in my heart. Although since then we haven't made it down to New England to see the colours, each year we do take a day and make a special excursion to soak ourselves in the glory. And this year has been my most spectacular so far. Partly, I think, this is because we have all the colours resplendent at once. Here's a glimpse:

After that first visit, I took my photos to be developed back in South Africa. You know what happened? To my great disappointment, they modified them, disbelieving that such reds, oranges and yellows could possibly be true!

Rhythms of Life

We've been in our present house for five years this month. As it was then, we have tomatoes in the garden. Otherwise, thanks to my husband, our little patch looks quite different.

Back in South Africa, when we were about to sell our Constantia home in order to go and live on the farm, our estate agent told us that five years is the average people stay in a house before moving. That may be different today, and of course she was referring to a certain demographic. I'm not going to go and google it. 'Snuf for my purpose.

One of these days we'll have to downsize. But not just yet.

Five years also, I've heard, is the rhythm of a marriage. This makes sense to me, for why else do we have 25 as silver, and 50 as gold? I wish I'd taken more notice of this timing over the years to sense what changes, developments and growth might have taken place in my relationship with my husband.

Seven years I believe is the rhythms of our individual life. The wise and wonderful Shakespeare told of this in Twelth Night 'At first the infant' etc. Certainly, I've had milestones happen around these times. 

How about you?

The examined life, you know?