Sunday Scribblings-Naples Ladies
Campiello's on Third Street in Naples, Florida, is a favorite place for Naples Ladies to lunch. On this sunny Thursday in October, there are already several NL's sipping Bellini's and spreading delicate dabs of homemade butter on warm Italian herb bread. While waiting on the arrival of their Pecan Roasted Chicken Salad, they lean in closer to their companions to discuss the latest exploits of their friend's errant husbands, or the abominal scores of The Club tennis team. A perfectly manicured, diamond encrusted hand might be placed gently on the forearm of their companion, when the news about Susan and Geoffrey's son - "I heard he was actually living with another man!" - is delivered. This same hand will then gently brush aside a strand of blond hair, highlighted to perfection and maintained in touch up sessions by Robert's weekly visits to their home.
The Naples Ladies are a character unto themselves, the epitome of old style Florida riche. They wear St. John suits year round, drive top of the line Jaguar, BMW, and (for the younger set) Lexus convertibles. Their studiously applied makeup accentuates skin deeply tanned and lined by the Florida sun, basked in during long hours on the golf course, tennis court, or lounging by the pool. Their platinum jewelry is from Tiffany's or Cartier, and tastefully adorns neck, ears, wrists, and fingers, stoping just short of being ostentatious. They have a regal bearing, as befits their place in the upper echelon of Florida society, and when they enter the patio of this very upscale restautant, your eye can't help but gravitate toward them.
On the outside, these women are a perfect package, complete in the most minute detail from head to toe. But everytime I see them, I observe an emptiness within, a lack that all the expensive trappings of the rich woman's lifestyle cannot deny. I think it's the messiness of life that makes it so interesting - I can't imagine these women crawling on the floor playing games of hide and seek with their children (or dogs!), or joining them to create bright fingerpaintings. Or sharing bottles of cheap wine with a friend while crying over a favorite movie. It's hard being perfect all the time, and the faces of the Naples Ladies reflect the effort it takes to portray this facade.
Whenever I'm in Naples, I eat lunch at Campiello's. I'm no Naples Lady - I'm just a messy, menopausal mom from Michigan - but I have a feeling there are many ways in which my life is a whole lot richer.
For more characters, go here
The Naples Ladies are a character unto themselves, the epitome of old style Florida riche. They wear St. John suits year round, drive top of the line Jaguar, BMW, and (for the younger set) Lexus convertibles. Their studiously applied makeup accentuates skin deeply tanned and lined by the Florida sun, basked in during long hours on the golf course, tennis court, or lounging by the pool. Their platinum jewelry is from Tiffany's or Cartier, and tastefully adorns neck, ears, wrists, and fingers, stoping just short of being ostentatious. They have a regal bearing, as befits their place in the upper echelon of Florida society, and when they enter the patio of this very upscale restautant, your eye can't help but gravitate toward them.
On the outside, these women are a perfect package, complete in the most minute detail from head to toe. But everytime I see them, I observe an emptiness within, a lack that all the expensive trappings of the rich woman's lifestyle cannot deny. I think it's the messiness of life that makes it so interesting - I can't imagine these women crawling on the floor playing games of hide and seek with their children (or dogs!), or joining them to create bright fingerpaintings. Or sharing bottles of cheap wine with a friend while crying over a favorite movie. It's hard being perfect all the time, and the faces of the Naples Ladies reflect the effort it takes to portray this facade.
Whenever I'm in Naples, I eat lunch at Campiello's. I'm no Naples Lady - I'm just a messy, menopausal mom from Michigan - but I have a feeling there are many ways in which my life is a whole lot richer.
For more characters, go here
Labels: Sunday Scribblings
posted by Becca at Sunday, October 08, 2006
9 Comments:
You paint such a detailed picture with these words.
Lovely post.
It sounds like these ladies might have enough "stuff" to make a book. Your observations sound spot on with all he attention given to the exterior look in order to camouflage the emptiness within.
Very richly drawn with your words. I've missed reading more from you this week!
Such a delicious portrait you´ve painted! Wonderful!
Oh, Becca! Could you imagine how hard it must be to keep up that "ladies who lunch" facade? They probably have nannies to play hide n seek with their kids. But each face has a story, right?
I liked your observations. Being in Naples must be fun.
Yes I think you are richer by far.
Oh, good one. You've painted a perfect picture of the "ladies who lunch".
I always wonder about women with the perfect facade, what are they like within? Surely they are not all the same? Or have they stuffed away their individual interests to keep up the right exterior? An interesting piece of writing.
this is so true, and how sad it is that women like this exist eveywhere - these Naples ladies remind me of the Sloane Rangers in london, the Knightsbridge women who wear their husband's salary on their fingers... and as for the leathery skin - all that money spent on expensive holiday tans, only to then have to have expensive cosmetic surgery to repair the damage :-) x
I've seen those women in every city I've lived in. You've described them so well.
Initially I felt the fatigue I imagine they mmight feel...keeping it up...always keeping all of it up. The goal: to look perfect. External focus.
Then I thought of how I entertain the sister of their fatigue in my very different striving. The goal: to be perfect. Internal focus.
Another reminder to just be. Thanks.
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