Hello Bumby here,
Welcome to this the 11th installment of The Preppy Chronicles. This also marks my 8 month of publishing my thoughts, ideas, convictions and feelings… my musings in this or really any forum and format other than my mind. Upon reflection and a reread of all of my posts in the past 8 months, I can truly say that I am grateful to this medium and to you my readers for allowing me to see and express how incredibly complexly shallow I am. It is also very reassuring to know that I am not alone in this mental state.
This blog is to Celebrate living life as a Male, Southern, Preppy, WWASP in a society that is ever increasingly blurring the lines. It’s about who we are , why we do the things that we do, and how everyday events affect us (me)
When I began this process, I did not understand nor appreciate what I was asking of myself and of you and how difficult this was going to be. It has been eight months and I find myself deeply into this Isomorphic process. ( For those of you new to this blog and as a reminder to the rest of us… Isomorphic …Superficial similarity in organisms that are Phylogenetically different resulting from convergence.)
It has been said … ” That the Rich are different, from you and I. ”
Yes, we are. If that offends you, so be it. As a WWASP and the author of this blog, I have a duty to you and to my tribe to state the obvious…..but I am also here to say, that we are much more alike than any one of us wishes to admit. The difficulty in admitting, arises from one simple fact…To be blunt about it, in most circles in America it is very unpopular to say that America is a caste society. Yet we are, and if you are on the bottom of the rung you find as many similarities as you can, if however, your on top you look for the dissimilarities. Even within my caste, I have a proper place. (And yes, I do know it, and yes I do sometimes choose to ignore it at great risk.) If you’re honest with yourself… You will admit that even within your own community of friends, you judge some to be on more of an equal plain with you than others. We all work hard to keep up this reality.
It has been my experience, that whether you drive a Rolls Royce or a Ford Pinto, live in a Studio Apt. or a 28 Bedroom Cottage, there are some things that are just part of the human experience. Here is an example of what I am getting at… Ever go to the Grocery or Bodega and wonder around aimlessly, you’re hungry, but, absolutely nothing looks good… or you’re at a friend’s home… and you must use the toilet, and low and-behold the direction that the paper rolls off is opposite of what you KNOW to be the correct direction… ….. Have you ever thought about changing it?….Have you ever changed it ?
I must confess, Not only thought about it , but yes, I have changed it.
And of course my favorite….Every human on this planet has a “Come To Jesus Moment” while sitting on the toilet.
These are just but a few examples of common humanness. My point is a simple one really, that some experiences are universal. Now, this is where the different realities start to emerge. The Rolls Royce reality or the Ford Pinto one. Even in these seemingly diverse realities, runs a noticeable thread of similarities. There is not only a caste system within the Society Rich, but also the Society Poor, there is also a caste ( or if you prefer) a divide or a disconnect in one geographical location from another. East Coast, Down East,Heart Land, Palm Beach, The South, The West, and of course The West Coast and California. In my experience WASPS and Preppies that seem to be scattered across this great land do have a shared experience but most importantly a shared past in each one of the geographical locations. Here is an example… East Coast Establishment vs. Southern Breeding, on the matter of Women and their usage and Traditions of wearing Pearls. each have a set of traditions that differ yet all agree, that Pearls are an essential part of a WASP and Preppy woman’s life and style.
You may rightly ask ‘what does all of this have to do with The Message vs. The Medium, and my “Dance Card”, Well at this moment I have no clue.
I will share one last tidbit that I have noticed about us as a tribe, a people…. We seem to have more Emotional, Mental and Substance abuse problems than most other classes. I don’t know if that is because we can afford more problems than other classes, and even if we don’t have one of these sacred aliments, we can pay someone to tell us that …”Yes, you do… and that will be $500.00, Thank You very much, and see you in two days.” It seems that when we visit a Sanatorium, for a stay, the standard line among ourselves and to others is ” They are on Holiday ” and when it is a Drying out time we are ” Abroad “
I will stop now, as I am feeling a little Bemused, Befuddled and Bemoaned and feel a need for a ” Holiday “
Always Bumby
The Preppy Chronicles Edition I volume 11
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So very, very true am quite mpressed you had the courage to call it like it is. Hope you have a lovely holiday!
Actually we are the biggest minority in the country-so while we may “fit” in. We are very different. xoxo
SC
So true Beth, However, Some of us are a …Shall we say MORE special than others. LOL.
Thanks all for the comments.
Always Bumby
Interesting post as always Bumby. Thank you~
Well done! Class has always been, is and always be. It is the way of mankind. It is how our brains are conditioned. Some cases, or shall I say some people truly warrant scrutiny. In this country democracy is dead. It is the plutonomy, the Warren Buffets who are the masters now. And they know who or what real class is, while we sit around and discuss it.
Keep up the excellent writing B. Scott.