Buckhead Housewives makes Perfectville stay at home moms look like white trash underachievers

:)
I was invited to attend a coffee sponsored by The Atlanta History Center this week. It was held at a members home off of Tuxedo Avenue in Buckhead. WOW. So this is how the other half lives???
I thought we had made it when we moved to Perfectville, but being surrounded by the Real Housewives of Buckhead, I immediately realized I was still in Pre K and they were graduating college with honors. They made the stay at home moms of perfectville look like underachievers who shop at target. Suddenly I felt like fitting into Perfectville would be a cakewalk compared to navigating your way through this group of pros!
It was quite an eclectic crowd at the coffee. There were young and old, new and old money, and those who happened to know someone with money who got to take a break from peering through the windows and actually come inside. If only for a couple of hours!
It was difficult at first being alone at the event. Not knowing a soul in the crowd was intimidating, but it gave me a chance to do what I love best, people watching! At first, I felt great walking up the cobble stone drive in my most fashionable outfit-- billy blues pants and an Anne Taylor shirt. But upon arrival I realized that my entirely too expensive pair of Billy Blues cost less than the buckle on any pair of Giuseppe Zonotti flats I saw walking through this lovely home.
The home was an older buckhead mansion that was restored with craftsman style rooms, and perfectly decorated. The lady of the manor had to be in her early 60's but looked no older than 49. She was absolutely gorgeous, poised, and dressed to perfection. I happened to meet her plastic surgeon while listening to all of the fund raising efforts planned for the 2008-2009 season, the most exciting one to the crowd was cocktails and croquet on the lawn of the Swan House, the ewws and awws were overwhelming! The plastic surgeon leaned over to ask if I played croquet, sadly no I said unless you count the animal croquet set we play in the back yard with the kids. The Dr found this a delightful answer from someone so refreshing and real, thus our conversation began and ended with me getting her card and telling her what amazing work she had done on the host. Truly gorgeous!
I've been to this event three years in a row, but enjoyed this time the most. I think because I am more comfortable in my own skin. If I suddenly became 'new money' I would not be any different than I am today. Well, maybe a little thinner due to lipo! And these women and I have some things in common. I've been feeling the pressure of fitting in in perfectville as these ladies have in Buckhead, except the pressure they feel is real, not self imposed. I felt for them, because once you get to know them a little better, they are extremely nice people with good hearts, and insecurities, just like the rest of us. They just have to do more work to keep up the facade! I left thanking god that I only had to fit in in Perfectville, it shouldn't be that hard, I shop at Target too!