Tuesday, May 17, 2011

guess who's coming to dinner?

dear emily,

unlike some of my stories, this one is 100% true and kind of funny.

saturday was a a gorgeous evening for a garden party at our local
museum.  the lovely ladies were bedecked in their pretty frocks
and skyscraper heels.  the men wore seersucker suits and dirty
bucks.   some were over-enjoying their cocktails, but that's not
part of this story.



the tables were extravagantly decorated with every shade of
purple flower, from the palest lilac to the deepest magenta lilies.
we were surprised to see two strangers seated at our table, but
found them delightful.

two days later, i received an exquisite bouquet of flowers from
the museum director with a note apologizing for the disappointing
evening.  ???   i couldn't, for the life of me, understand what he
meant, as the garden party had been perfect.   later, i  discovered
that our dinner guests had been party crashers, which hit my funny
bone.

you might think they got a free meal, but really they paid a high
price; they had to talk to us all evening.

love,
lea

ps.  "do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing
so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing
it."  hebrews 13:2

44 comments:

Farm Girl said...

That is so great Lea, I am glad you had fun and maybe those folks did too.
I wonder why people would do that?
I always think that God has a special place in His heart to do that for some people. I bet they needed to hear what you guys had to say. You know the God of impossibilities. :) So nice you had such a nice attitude.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

HA! I love that. My kind of story.

and yes maa'm, devotions FIRST, then whatever else, including blogging. :)

xo

Terra said...

Now that story brought me big smiles. How funny to enjoy dinner with party crashers, and all the purple flowers sound lovely.

Erica said...

So glad you enjoyed your time with the party crashers- hilarious!

highheeledlife said...

I love that quote... and it is so true!!! Wishig a wonderful and blessed week..xo HHL

Silver Strands said...

Hahaha! I LOVE this story of yours :)

Unknown said...

I love this post! I agree...I don't know why they crashed...But you don't know why things happen. Only God knows.
Xo
http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Oh and following your blog :)
Do the same and say hi:)
Xo
http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Too funny...my husband would have loved it...he would have known their life history by the time they left and they would have wondered why they bothered...LOL

Now if we go country driving I have to blast the Eagles over the sound system...you think you could live?

Have a great week...went tadpole hunting today and sooooooooo enjoying this weather.

A Tale of Two Cities said...

You just never know what serendipities life will throw you--being nice to people you don't know always is better than the alternative. I bet they really enjoyed their "night out" with you!

Gloria said...

That's hilarious!! :) still laughing here. :)

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall (table) that evening! :)

Sweet blessings to you, dear Lea!

xoxo...Gloria

Karena said...

Lea I love this story!! You know at least they are into the arts! Ha!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Come and enter my New Giveaway from Serena & Lily! You will love it!

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

Ha! I love this story...I'm sure they had a great night with you too.

Cheri Bunch said...

Ahhhh shucks! It wasn't my husband and I! I would have loved to visit with you! :) Love this story!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today, and blessing me with your thoughts!
Blessings,
Cheri

Dawn said...

Lea, your postings being fewer and farther between make them all the more delightful.

Have you ever crashed a party? I don't have the nerve.

Skyscraper heels and dirty bucks. Loved it.!

Mountain Mama said...

Oh - now that is funny! In return, maybe you should send flowers to the "party crashers"? Afterall, they DID sit with you through an entire meal. :-)

Sounds like a delightful evening.
blessings,
ashley

Vee said...

It is a compliment to them that you found them delightful. I don't imagine that they were unhappy to be seated with you at all. I have other thoughts floating around about this post, but am too tired to think. ☺ Oh! One thing is certain. I'm glad to see a post.

Cinnamon said...

It sounded wonderful! I would have loved to been that couple visiting with you all evening :-)

Would you mind sending me your address. Gracie girl has a note for Sunday and she had already thrown away the envelope you sent the note in. Or she could mail it directly to Sunday. Either way she was pleased as punch to receive her letter!

~Cinnamon

Joan Elizabeth said...

I can't imagine having the aplomb to pull off being a gate crasher but i sure would like to spend the evening chatting with you. Also, a garden party seems so summery ... how lovely.

Emily said...

Too funny! I like the verse you choose to go with it, very fitting :)

Unknown said...

I be those party crashers really enjoyed your company. Wonderful words to live by. I can imagine that party was beautiful.

Karen

Darcie said...

Too, too funny! However...I would "PAY" to sit and chat with you all evening, after all I think there is a lot of wisdom I could glean from you dear lady.

Lisa said...

How funny! It just proves that you are the most fabulous hostess ever!

Unknown said...

Miss Lea - you are such a delightful lady!! Who wouldn't love to sit next to you and your spouse and chat during an elegant evening meal? You never know, maybe you shared some Godly advise that they needed to hear.
You are always so gracious and an inspiration to me and many, many others!!
Love,
Leslie

Town and Country House said...

What a great story!

Southern Lady said...

Funny...so glad that they were delightful! Maybe God put them at your table for a reason. Carla

Debbie said...

HAHA...this is hilarious...I have always wondered how anyone would have the nerve to do this. Looks like God decided how that was going to work out for them. Love it. Have a good week. BLESSINGS!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! So funny!

Rattus Scribus said...

Lea,

I have been missing your wonderful blog. But no more. I love what you're doing here.

Please keep them coming. You have inspired me to restart my blog with similar purpose as yours.

Thank you
Rattus is back. This time the rumors are true.

Anne Lyken-Garner said...

Funny indeed. This reminds me of this guy who turns up to church smelling of urine. He chumps down on the communion bread too. Many people forget that we're supposed to be welcoming to strangers - even those who look straggly.

Your story is very striking. Gate crashers are people too. They're not less than we are because we got the piece of paper (the invitation) and they didn't.

Jenners said...

I can't imagine crashing a party. I wouldn't have the nerve. That is kind of the director to send you the flowers and an apology note.

Felisol said...

I think you think and behaved rightly.
Shouldn't Christians anywhere in the world be kind to strangers and treat them as equals?
What if you met angels and rejected them?
I take the word of the Bible literally when it comes to this point.
Matthew 25 :43 "I was a stranger and you did not invite me in."
You did well on being kind, not caring about who and what the people were.

caz1975 said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog, always lovely to see other beautiful blogging ladies :-)

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I'm sorry to tell you that I think we have the same humor gene... my mind completely understands and pictures a country French underground bomb shelter!

Happy weekend!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Ahhh yes, you never ever know WHO is really in your presence, so good idea to be kind to ALL!!!!! LEAH DEAREST! SO good to see you stop by! Please come over next week and grab a link and visit all the dear friends participating and see my little post for Paris. Blessings to you! Anita

MyMaracas said...

Oh how funny! You do have to wonder what brought them there.

Crown of Beauty said...

Dear Lea
Your sense of humor is hilarious... I chuckled to myself after reading what you wrote - that the two gate crashers had to pay a high price for their free meal - they had to talk to you all evening!

I am sure they enjoyed themselves... so they not only got a free meal, they got to meet nice folks as well!

Thanks for sharing this. I love your heart and perspective!

Love
Lidj

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Lea, You have a great sense of humor! I love this! Wishing you many blessings in the week ahead.

Kathleen said...

Fabulous! That's what I call "rolling with the punches." You made lemonade from those lemons (crashers).

carissa said...

i am certain it'd be a reward to "have" to talk to you all evening!

Anonymous said...

Nice! :) At least you had fun with them!!

Thanks for your comment..yes me too ;)

Rachel said...

That is absolutely hilarious! And too funny - that verse has been running through my head lately too!

Laurie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Laurie said...

Love it! Wish I had that much nerve!