Bringing Visiting Back

Some time ago, Grace began interjecting the term "visit" into our conversations as a way to express social behavior that isn't quite in line with the actual definition of visiting, but somewhat harks back to days woebegone. Oddly enough, Grace and I didn't become BFFs until long after she moved away to SF, so we do all kinds of visiting.

Anyway, the type of visiting she intended is somewhat of a lost artform. It's the kind of visiting one would consider doing at tea time with their lovely and well refined grandmother. You know, the kind of visiting you do when you just sit and visit with someone, well poised at the edge of your seat, legs held closely together and your knees nearly touching one another's. You sit there facing one another at an open angle with your hands placed femininely upon the tops of your legs. You gaze fondly at one another as you enjoy another sip of an exotic tea from the Far East. You smile and perhaps toss back and forth some light, gay banter.

Oh it's the simple pleasures we lack in this complicated 24/7 on demand world of ours. Take a moment to enjoy the company of someone you admire and just visit with them for a while, like First Lady Nancy Regan and Princess Diana of Wales are doing in this photograph:

CAPTION: Notice our dearly departed Diana really knew the proper way to visit with someone. She was a dignitary in every sense of the word. Unfortunately our beloved Nancy really didn't represent the United States of America very well to the rest of the world when it came to visiting. Look at her slouching forward, hands all disheveled, legs folding every which way. Osteoperosis or not, she's a mess!

Here's an even greater challenge. Try just dropping in on a close friend spontaneously sometime, just to visit for a while. Does anyone drop in on anyone else anymore these days? Time is precious, but not when you're unable to spend quality time with those who mean the most to you in your life.