I don't care for this term because I've never been fashionably late for anything. I leave that up to my mother who was a very beautiful woman in her youth. She admitted she liked to be the last one so she could make "an entrance."

My hostess can always count on us to be precisely on time. Not early (so as to catch her still running around with preparations) and not late even by five minutes. I value the very few people who cook us a nice meal.

My good friend never fails to arrive here for a sit down dinner anywhere from one half hour to 45 minutes late. She and her mother live only 25 minutes away. I have kept dinner warm while waiting. I go to great lengths to entertain my guests. This means my silver, best china and crystal. Fresh flower arrangements and lit candles atop the table runner and damask (my favorite type) table cloth on our dining room table. It always gets ooo's and ahhh's. She even takes pictures and her and her mother remark how her own sister-in-law always uses paper plates.

While my good friend has never invited me to a meal in the home she shares with her mother, I would think her mother would realize the work I go through to make a gourmet meal for them. I would think they could be considerate enough to arrive on time. This has even happened when I made reservations for us to an expensive restaurant for her birthday. When she arrived I was wringing my hands. She offered the lame excuse that she had diarhea! When she arrives late for dinner she never says "I'm sorry" or even an excuse to explain.

So, what I have done is ask her to come at say, 6:00 p.m. and then plan to have dinner 45 to 60 minutes after that time.

My question is, how can a person be so late and not realize how very rude that is?