Today is part 2 of my nostalgia series. I'm just writing about things I miss. Old-fashioned things I wish would come back.

I miss the structured, more formal parties that used to be part of social life. Things like garden parties and teas and cocktail parties. The sorts of entertainments that people planned in advance and got dressed up for. Nowadays, all too many people either don't entertain at all or use restaurants to do heir entertaining or save it all up for the holidays and stress themselves out..

I'm lucky to be part of some social circles that do entertain. I throw a few parties of some sort each year. I have other friends who host dinner parties occasionally. But it's all too easy to fall back into the restaurant hosting or to getting takeout or to just staying home alone.

Maybe I need to lead by example and host a tea. Or a cocktail party. But that will have to wait until September is over and my life is a bit saner.

In the meantime, I'll be nostalgic for formal entertaining.