Friday the 8th of December, 2016, in the heart of this beautiful, chaotic, metropolis, I headed for the YMCA (92Y) via the Ralph Lauren’s Flagship store on Madison Avenue, a first. Central Park was my route, and when I found the castle, (what the store looks like) a tall, dark, and handsome young man opened the door and welcomed me.

Since I was there to check out an antler chair for my friend Nancy, in Estes, who sold it to Ralph Lauren for displays, I asked the kind gentleman if he had seen it. He hadn’t, so I started my self-guided tour through the most exquisitely decorated, intimately staged rooms filled with classy merchandise, paintings, and  Christmas floral arrangements.

Dressed in my finest, with my new black hat, I felt like an imposter. I stood tall and walked slowly, and presented my best couture look, and still felt like a pauper. I was out of my element.

I didn’t find the chair, and the kind man told me to check across the street at their furniture store. So, I did.

Another tall, dark, and handsome man greeted me. I stepped into a room of elegance: crystal, brass, marble, and mirrors. It was not a furniture store — it was women’s fashions.

My sense of belonging in this elite environment had not improved. The sales clerks, dressed in black and white business casual, came from several directions to offer assistance. One man, who introduced himself as David, asked, “Could I interest you in some water or coffee?” Feeling awkward, and wanting to say, “No thank you,” I answered, “Coffee sounds great.”

He then said, “Espresso? Cappuccino? Americano?” With a smile, I said, “Americano would be nice.”

Now, I was stuck; waiting for coffee, when I wanted to bolt.

I wandered around the first floor where I felt one sequin, and bead embellished chiffon tank top; $4.975. I touched nothing else.      

With no coffee yet, and while beautiful clerks watched me from their glass-top counter, I ascended the grand staircase to the second floor. Entering a room with only blush colored evening gowns, David appeared with coffee.

On a table between two blush colored chairs he sat a silver platter highlighting coffee in a china cup, a little silver spoon, and cream and sugar in coordinating silver containers.

I thanked him.

He exited, and I looked at the tray and the chairs and decided I’d better sit down. I poured heavy cream into my coffee, stirred it daintily, and took a sip. I returned the cup to the saucer and folded my hands in my lap. I then experienced an etiquette flashback; it is proper to hold the saucer with the cup.

I sat with the cup and saucer in my lap, sipping. It seemed like the largest cup of coffee I had ever drunk. A lady came into the room, and I tried not to hear as she whispered into her phone, “Darling, fifteen thousand dollars is a little much to spend on that, don’t you think?”

With coffee almost gone (proper etiquette not to eat or drink it all) I was able to slowly exit the store, smiling and nodding appropriately to the salespeople smiling back.

Whew.

On the street, I called Nancy, and we laughed.

I did not feel envious, only relief; I was free.

Two Months of Firsts – #11

Posted on December 10, 2016