Is It REALLY a choice?

Asked, what a friend believed to be a difficult question, one has been discovered A FRAUD!

While planning our ‘bored in the city’ evening at Le Scandal Burlesque, my dear friend asked about a stereotype of Midwesterners she’d once heard uttered in NYC. “Is it true that Midwesterners are OBSESSED with the relics of Society?” “Define ‘society’?” I demanded. She began mumbling and garbling together a hodge-podge of past and present misnomers and assumptions attributed to ‘real society’, ’socialites’, ‘socials’, ‘nouveaux riches’, ‘late twentieth century nouveaux riches’, old money and- egads! Hollywood.

I sighed and began an attempt at explaining the relationship between the ideas begun by the Industrial Age and insulated within the midwestern state of Ohio and its varied regions today. “Have you ever heard Ohio’s slogan, ‘The Heart of It All’?” “YES! It’s a reference to its shape, right?” I smirked a bit then continued, “Not exactly…Ohio is thought to be the beginning of the Midwest region from the east, yet the regions within the state somewhat ‘mirror’ (for lack of a better description) the stereotypes of similar regions within the United States.” “Hmph! You mean…the south- is like The South?” “Mon Dieu! Vraiment!” She laughed and I continued, “Those in the northeastern part of the state tend to socially mirror East-coasters- they DREAM of mirroring New York 'Socials', but tend to fall…a bit…short.” We both giggled.

I have often heard from those I have encountered in my travels abroad, that with my vividly entertaining descriptions of my childhood and recent years in Ohio, I do the world a great disserve by not retelling these anecdotes in literary form. In due time, to be sure. The most enthralling seems to be my recounting of cotillions and debutante balls as though one was preserved from an earlier era of American society. “They still DO THAT?!” many have exclaimed; to which I only answer, “Why not?” Teaching those who have notability due to family or wealth the civic-mindedness of merging fund-raising with event sociability should not decline, as far as I am concerned. But back to the conversation.

I gave her the BRIEFEST of history lessons citing Rockefeller and Standard Oil and my hometown area's status by the end of the Civil War as one of five cities that were centers for the largest oil refineries in the nation. Cleveland was also the scene for the origins of the business world’s most infamous monopoly called The Cleveland Conquest (there's a bit of drama one might want to look up later). Carnegie Steel, Central Ohio Coal, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Firestone Tire and Rubber, King Iron Bridge Co., Bridge Manufacturing Co., Toledo Shipbuilding Co., as well as various shipping (the industry that brought my Irish-Canadian grandfather to the region) and railway companies contributed to the American wealthy’s presence in the state. The streets of Cleveland still bare names that paid honor to the wealthy that called the area home; a certain area is still referred to as 'Millionaires Row' by people in my grandparents' generation. With all that skirting of the mighty and their lifestyles, blue bloods, the nouveaux riches and society types in general were the 'celebrities' to emulate for a long time. Hollywood was still so new and movies not quite the past-time of the midwest, yet.

"My grandmother believed the less you were talked about the better. She once paraphrased a blue blood of New York's old society- I believe it was the elder Mrs. Woodward- by stating that one's name should only be in the news three times: at birth; when engaged or marrying; and at your demise." "Are you kidding me?!", my friend asked in disbelief. "I kid you not." I at one time I believed my grandparents being emigres and coming here with fantasies of the American Dream fueled their interest in the lives of the wealthy, but it wasn't just them- it was most of the people in that area. A country club membership; prep schools; and buying items in anticipation of them being 'heirlooms' was the closest many got in certain circles to emulating those families with historic names and ties to the founding of our country. "Things changed and a word that meant ladies and men of leisure was coined, it was 'Socialite'." "Why is that word so taboo to you when I use it to describe people?" I sighed, "Because those are not Socialites, those are 'Socials': members of society that believe they leave a purposeful mark on the world that is not just limited to wealth and festive events; their social gatherings have a purpose-" "Like 'partying with a purpose'?" "Exactly." "So socialites are-" "Paris Hilton, NOT Tinsley Randolph Mortimer!"

My friend guffawed too loudly. "The way you say her name-!" "What?!" "M.~ you really dig these people and what they do, don't you?" I tried to measure the consequences of my answer, but the truth of the matter is one is stuck in idolizing the well-travelled New York Upper Westside/Palm Beach/Katonah/Greenwich set. People that get stuck to The City like they fear losing their place in some imaginary social status line bore me. "I suppose I am very much fascinated..." "Even more than with celebrities?" I realized at that moment if the scope of my interests became limited to either one or the other, like my grandmother's granddaughter should, I would choose true blue over creative & new. "Yes, sweetie even more than celebrities-" "Then...you're more like a mere mortal worshipping The Elite?-" "Not true! Think of me more as one of those jealous goddesses that wishes she could play like mortals." I won't give up my throne cloud yet!


If you are wondering where I get my 'fix'...try one of my expresso-sized jolts NEWYORKSOCIALDIARY.COM. Kisses, M.~