Wednesday, January 27, 2010

POSTER GIRL FOR BAD BEHAVIOR

When we first heard about, YaVaughnie Wilkins, the jilted lover of a very rich man and her poster project, it seemed like a story straight out of a tabloid. Instead, her love story was straight out of a tabloid. We felt her pain upon learning that the man she thought was hers for keeps was going back to his wife for keeps. We’ll never know the nitty-gritty - with or without it all of our lives will go on. And we hope she will too.

Recently, we watched an interesting documentary about the flamboyant congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Apparently when he and his wife, the fabulous jazz pianist Hazel Scott divorced, people tried to get her to talk about him and their marriage. She said something very poignant, “My mother taught me that some things should stay in your room.”

Ms. Wilkins, who probably has many rooms to have afforded such a campaign, didn’t watch this documentary. Maybe the posters had already been printed or maybe she had already been dumped. We may have felt her pain but we’re not feeling her foray into the public relations business either. Yo, YaVaughnie, can you spell dignity?

We think of the good she could’ve done with the money spent. She took a very low road to high places, major billboards up in the sky for all to see. If she has any money left, we suggest she send it to Haiti. In fact, maybe she should go to Haiti and see for herself something to be really brokenhearted about.

All is not lost; it’s never too late to start minding your manners. But for now, we suggest she go to her room, regroup and come out with all the grace and dignity she can muster. We're rooting for her.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

HAITIANS UNDER FIRE AND GRACE

There's been a lot of talk about the spirit of the Haitian people. It is strong and determined, we've seen it at work day in and day out ever since this horrific natural disaster.

The other day, we saw something quite wonderful on a news report. A line of Haitian children had been waiting for hours in the blistering sun for a bottle of water. As they were each handed one, not only were there smiles of gratitude but each and every child said, "Thank you," the newscaster reported. They were sweet, gracious and deserving of so much more than just a bottle of water. But, they wrapped their small hands around the bottle with their heads held up high - their eyes were bright and hopeful.

As many of us are already doing as much as we can, lets remember the brightness of those children's eyes and their gracious spirits, as we continue to do as much as we can for the people of Haiti.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

ETIQUETTE FOR THE NEXT DECADE: OUR WISHES


Yvette’s


That people will stop putting their feet on furniture that doesn't belong to them
(including public transportation, the office, at the theater and other public meeting spaces).

That young people will stop calling older people sweetie or any other term of endearment

That people will go back to saying you're welcome, instead of no problem or no worries

The stroller brigade will learn to make room for pedestrians at the curb and on the sidewalk and not shoot dirty looks as if you didn’t seek permission from them.

That people will drive sober, with respect and not tweet, text or chat on the
phone while driving, more than minding your manners, this is about minding one’s life

That inside and outside voices will disappear and there will be one voice, for children and adults

That people will stop checking messages at the movies, theatre or any other public space that can cause a distraction to others

That people will not chew gum in public, so that they don’t look like cows, (that’s what our teachers use to say)

That the use of profanity in public is punishable by a fine

That guys stop showing us their underwear, and girls stop showing off their thongs, both need to pull up their pants

Yvonne’s

That people will use my beautiful linen guest towels instead of my beautiful personal towels

That parents will not let their kids walk all over seats in public places (I’m miserable when I wear my white coat, have to stand)

That people wouldn’t answer their phone if they’re already on another call or cut off a conversation for another call as if they’re PR flacks

That men will be more gentlemanly and give a lady a seat at a bar, oh and on buses and trains

That people will stop telling us how much Yvette and I look alike again and again

That women stop jabbing their handbags into the chests and stomachs of others, the same goes for backpacks

That double dippers stop double dipping

That grown-ups stop holding their forks and knives the way they did when they were 8 years old

That buttiquette becomes an acceptable code of behavior

That people will find more interesting ways to start a conversation other than ask, “What do you do?” (due to high unemployment, it’s almost rude)