tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post6231531654887798431..comments2024-03-28T09:40:06.621-04:00Comments on Murder is Everywhere: GardeniasOvidia Yuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749549092493567689noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-73721994813097433932012-01-18T14:21:41.136-05:002012-01-18T14:21:41.136-05:00Hi, Meg -- The experience, while no way to spend ...Hi, Meg -- The experience, while no way to spend a Saturday, would have been much more endurable without the gardenias. The boys in my class were occasionally drafted into partner duty at an all-girls' school, although never a "charm school." Did you pick up any skills at all that have served you well over the years? I learned in what order forks should be used, but then moved to a country where it's mostly chopsticks and spoons.Timothy Hallinanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551263887774445511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-46645550040520629622012-01-18T00:15:00.142-05:002012-01-18T00:15:00.142-05:00I suffered through "charm school." Shade...I suffered through "charm school." Shades of the same, only all girls, until 8th grade "dance" lessons in school. Pure torture. No gardenias, though. TG. ;-DMeghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-58896323244793362882012-01-15T15:33:30.479-05:002012-01-15T15:33:30.479-05:00Hi, Charlotte -- So glad you liked it. It's a...Hi, Charlotte -- So glad you liked it. It's a memory that's pursued me for decades -- in fact, it's the reason I know I sometimes dream smells, because there was a while when I dreamt the fragrance of gardenias. I should probably warn you, though that this isn't really very indicative of my books, which can get pretty hairy at times. I do write them the best I can, though.<br /><br />Jeffrey, you have no idea how far away that bathroom seemed. It grew even worse when biology began to have its way with me, and some of the girls in the class began to -- well, stand out, if you know what I mean. It would have been bad to heave in there at all, but to have done it in front of Marcy Roper -- I'd never have gotten over it.<br /><br />Ah, Lil, I know all about it. We were occasionally drafted as partners for an all-girl school in the D.C. area, and "awkward" doesn't begin to describe it. And, of course, there was the absolute conviction -- for boys who didn't have sisters, at any rate -- that girls were so different from us that the dances qualified as interspecies events. Took me YEARS to get past that.Timothy Hallinanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551263887774445511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-54640994121893996442012-01-15T14:38:15.171-05:002012-01-15T14:38:15.171-05:00As a teen, I went to an all girls school. We would...As a teen, I went to an all girls school. We would have dances with our brother all boys school. (Both are co-ed now). Your wonderful, lively article brought it all back-but mostly the smell and atmosphere of those awful awkward times, and we didn't even have gardenias! They taught us to dance, so I have had this lifetime urge to lead. Is there anyone who sailed through adolescence? What a time!lil Glucksternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288522126331817172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-27331906718692900402012-01-15T10:56:49.430-05:002012-01-15T10:56:49.430-05:00Homegrown class. I love it. The photos, too, but ...Homegrown class. I love it. The photos, too, but as an allergy sufferer the photo I really want to see is you negotiating that gardenia foxtrot jungle.Jeffrey Sigerhttp://www.jeffreysiger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-6693625231733952042012-01-15T10:35:30.371-05:002012-01-15T10:35:30.371-05:00Tim, I loved this! I've always been intrigued ...Tim, I loved this! I've always been intrigued by the social fabric of history. So many books, so little time--it's hard to choose which writer to read in this cluttered marketplace. But this piece has inspired me to find your books.Charlotte Hingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03044024871533181178noreply@blogger.com