Yesterday, I discussed the serious problems Houstonians face in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, specifically the endless wait for up to 500,000 customers to get any semblance of power restored.
After reading today’s Houston Chronicle, I realize that not only do the poor folks in Galveston and surrounding small towns suffer, but that Houston’s swankier residents also endured hardships due to this hurricane.
So, let me summarize two harrowing stories that appeared in today’s Houston Chronicle:
The rich are different from you and me. Their affluent abodes never take on affluence during storms. Many of Houston’s poshest pads accessorize their curbside appeal with invisible buried power lines invulnerable to tempests and the resulting inconvenience of blackouts.
However, some of the humbler River Oaks denizens found that Hurricane Ike failed to distinguish zip codes. Those whose electricity grows on tree poles evacuated to more welcoming climes, jetting to Paris, Aspen or New York (in summer, how gauche!). Those who lacked private aircraft sought out refuge in Four Seasons or Five Diamond lodgings around the Lone Star state. One socialite, already safely in Austin on “philanthropic business” found her suitcase(s) contained only “a cocktail dress, diamond earrings and running shorts and a t-shirt.” Hopefully, she also included some Jimmy Choos to complete that ensemble.
Houston’s movers and shakers weren’t spared moving and shaking from Hurricane Ike. The Houston Chronicle reports that “the prized Bentley of one major player was smashed by a tumbling tree.”
Thus, no one escapes hurricane or karmic forces. All are twisted in the enduring loop of samsara (suffering). Some of us just spend it shoveling sewage from our living rooms and others sweat over gala party rescheduling snafus at the toniest Tony’s restaurant.
Filed under: Illusions, Karma, Updates | Tagged: Houston, Houston Chronicle, Hurricane Ike, River Oaks |
The Winking Buddha Blog 
I am going to assume you are young person, or someone with limited exposure (or junior employment) at a community service organization. . Allow me to give you the crash course on “social events” (parties, galas, what not). Social events are for raising money – LARGE amounts of money. For most, social events are social obligations – much like family events. For the person who is asked by the organization to be “honored” at an event, said person usually accepts the honor knowing it is their turn in the proverbial barrel. The honoree is almost always determined by the level of respect and number of friends/family associates that person has in a given community (this translates into a long guest list, good attendance and $$$ ). For guests, when an invitation is received for such an event there is first apprehension from thinking about the hit ones wallet will take, followed by fear the event coincides with Monday Night Football, then acceptance and the hope that someone you know got invited and you can split the cost of a table with them. This is done much in the same way one evaluates the family fall out from skipping Crazy Uncle Larry’s 12th annual fried turkey Thanksgiving bonanza. Generally, the greater good wins out (its all for a good cause anyway) and at the end of the day, guests usually write a check, attend the event and hopes (if not insures) that in the event he/she is chosen to be honored by an organization he/she is most passionate about – the favor will be returned. It is an open secret – the honorees know it, the attendees know it, and it is on of the most efficient way to raise funds and bring attention to a cause or organization. There will always be the few who have no trouble patting themselves on the back, always looking for a photo-op, but for most it is just another obligation and the cost of trying to improve some corner of the world.
TripsyDaily —
First, thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and kindly writing a comment. I very much appreciate your input and interaction.
Second, folks are admonished never to “assume” (i.e. ass*u*me) things for obvious reasons. In fact, I have had more than 30 years experience in the world of public and corporate affairs. Therefore, I’ve experienced the gratification (i.e. torture and sheer panic) of arranging my share of grand fund-raising galas and the inconvenience (i.e. hysteria) when my best laid plans turned out not to be. Don’t get me started about the guest of honor who failed to show up (nope, not Senator McCain, although he was invited to that shindig) or when an earthquake set in motion my big event before the celebrity emcee could grab the microphone. Yep, I’ve been there, done that.
I retired from that life because while hobnobbing with the social elite made for interesting memoirs, my reading tastes leaned more toward Henry David Thoreau and you know what he says about enterprises that require new clothes.
As you stated so well, these “social events” are for raising LARGE sums of money for worthy causes. These galas provide community service and benefit the public good. Those involved must be acknowledged for their contributions — financial, voluntary, in-kind or otherwise. And I applaud all social, business and civic leaders for that generosity.
However, the mission of my “Winking Buddha Blog” (and the rest of my professional writings) is to look at the status quo with a truly “winking” satirical eye. My purpose to look at the world and call out illusion-perceptions when I see them (knowing full well, my views, equally are only illusions and perceptions).
So when I read the social columns about the same social paragons at Cinderella balls, nibbling boiled shrimp while critiquing other guests’ ensembles, I tend to think that philanthropy is not all that it is cracked up to be. Add to that all those obligations and photo ops that the honoree in the “proverbial barrel” has to live up to, no wonder these gala social functions seem to be the bane of River Oaks society, as you hinted.
I wonder how many more funds could be raised if all the administrative (plus all the personal haute couture) expenses of these lavish affairs were instead given directly to the community service agencies? Sorta, kinda like those silent auctions or no-dinner dinners where the elite write BONUS checks for privilege of not hasseling to attend yet another boring function.
Doesn’t seem to work that way. So, I assume (there’s that word again) that the philanthropic movers and shakers really enjoy getting decked out to attend such events. Perhaps it’s just the mere pleasure of sharing goodwill with public spirited colleagues. Or, perhaps, they really do desire that mention in the society page or that photo op with the celebrity du jour in the barrel?
A Bodhisattva is a Buddhist who realizes ultimate enlightenment, but rather than obtaining Nirvana (i.e. one’s personal Fort Knox), chooses instead to remain in the world of suffering to quietly help others obtain enlightenment and their Nirvanas first. When all suffering ends, then the Bodhisattva can head for the spa.
And that’s why I winked at River Oaks elite in my blog. Please understand I meant no harm and interpret my comments the “always irrelevant and often irreverent” spirit in which they are written.
Winking Buddha