Michele, Your writing is a special treat. I'm glad you are the daughter of your mother.

My mother hosted many "coffees" when I was growing up. She kept a notebook to make sure she didn't repeat what she served, the centerpiece on her table had to be something different for each party. All of her friends wore their pearls but they took their gloves off to smoke. Cigarettes were snubbed in little cut glass ashtrays. Fancy!

I think the American South isn't all that different from England.