R.S.V.P.: A Public Service

I think I am going to start a movement: to educate people as to the meaning of R.S.V.P. I am so sick of people who think they can just show up to an event without responding to the invitation. I am even more sick of people who think they can bring uninvited guests -- and YES, that also means your CHILDREN if your invitation does not either include the names of the children individually or the words "and family." Do NOT assume that an invitation to YOU includes your children, cousins, relatives by marriage and out of town guests. And do NOT call the host of the event on the day of the event and give some sob story about how YOUR guest has a friend visiting from out of town and does not want to leave the ADULT out of town guest ALONE for a few hours. If your GUEST does not want to leave HER friend alone, then your GUEST should not attend! Buh-bye. I found a perfect synopsis on line re: R.S.V.P. I think this should be printed on some kind of square pretty card or paper that gets inserted with invites until people get a fucking clue:

" R.S.V.P. stands for the French phrase Répondez s’il vous plaît (“reply, please”), so it doesn’t need an added “please.” However, since few people seem to know its literal meaning, and fewer still take it seriously, it’s best to use plain English: “Please reply.” It is a mistake to think that this phrase invites people to respond only if they are planning to attend; it is at least as important to notify the person doing the inviting if you cannot go. And no, you can’t bring along the kids or other uninvited guests."

BEAUTIFUL! Not that I'm bitter.