So here I am - staring into the abyss.
OK, maybe not the abyss; but definitely incredulous over stupidity - not to mention horrendously bad manners.
Here's the story: invited to a party at an Embassy (live in the DC area, so opportunities for interesting gatherings abound) but on the day of, decided I just wasn't feeling up to it.
So, HoBF comes home, finds a visitor, and says, "Take our tickets, please. And enjoy."
Next day, visitor calls to express thanks for tickets, and says what a wonderful evening it was. I, of
course, immediately inquire about the food; as a buffet dinner was being served.
And here's where the fun began. "Oh," I was told, "I don't know because by the time I got to the table, everything was gone." Hm... struck me as odd, because while I've seen plates emptied at these gatherings before, they've always been quickly replenished.
"But no," I was told, "They didn't bring anymore food out; and by the time I got up there, I only got a cherry tomato and lettuce leaf." Hm... sounds a little fishy to me...
Then the coup de grace: "A man came to the table and was straightening things up, saw me, and asked me if I'd enjoyed everything. I replied, no, because there was no food left when I got there."
"And he smiled and said something like, 'We forget that Americans eat bigger portions than we do; and that we need to put out more food.' (Again, sounds suspicious to me.)
But then the real kicker came: her response to the gentleman: "So how many times have you done one of these?" "Five times", he replied. "Oh, so you're either really slow learners or...."
At this point my brain shut down. WHAT? You said WHAT? You're an invited guest, on another country's soil (remember, when you're in a foreign embassy, you're technically on their soil) and you INSULTED the man? Are you kidding me?
"Oh, he laughed. He thought it was funny." Yeah right, He works at an embassy; he's trained and paid to be diplomatic at ALL times. He's smiling at you and thinking, "What a rude, ignorant American."
Much is being written these days about the lack of manners. But when a grown (some would say elderly) woman, pops off like a smart-ass teenager; and actually thinks she's being funny and clever? Gasp...
What's the world coming to?