It’s all in the breeding…

I flew to Omaha early yesterday morning, and that evening had to attend one of those tedious, self-congratulatory events on which academic institutions seem to thrive.  It was a black tie event, and I was pleasantly surprised to be hailed from across the room by a voice I hadn’t heard for years. 

G- deM- is a French physician I encountered years ago at the Institut Curie and Hôpital Claudius Régaud in Paris.  They were doing a seminar on their proton therapy research, and G was my appointed clinical partner for the duration.  As we entered every unit of the hospital, G exchanged kisses with every nurse we encountered, with introductions and socializing required before we actually saw a patient.  I finally asked him how many of these nurses he was sleeping with, and his answer was, "Why, all of zem, of course!"

As I was there over a long weekend, he invited me to come stay at his family’s home in the countryside.  The home turned out to be a 16th century château with a vineyard.  That Sunday, he told me we would be having a family lunch, which turned out to be about 30 people.  Much excellent wine was consumed, along with an astounding amount of food.  I recall one uncle of his who was the image of Maurice Chevalier.  I kept wishing he would break into Glad I’m Not Young Anymore.

There were easily 300 people at last night’s "do", so we found a table in the back of the hall and caught up for awhile.  Then we turned our eyes to the crowd, and commented how easy it was to separate the Old Guard from the New Money.  It’s all in the way they wore their clothes.  While all the women were in smart tailleur and the men in black tie, it was obvious who had been bred and raised in it and who had not.  There is a nonchalance to those comfortable in their role in life, and a stiffness to those trying so hard to be a part of a culture where they don’t truly belong.  (We commented that Omaha’s native son, Warren Buffet, is a perfect example of this.  He may try to wear bespoke suits (albeit from China, of all places), but he only manages to look uncomfortable and rumpled in them.)

I’ll have the pleasure of G’s company for the next month, and we’re planning to have him fly to NC for a long weekend with me at home.  While he won’t be seeing 30 for lunch, I will get to repay his hospitality with some good food and wine.