By Vicki DuBois

Two little girls giggled and twirled in long, swishy, taffeta ballroom gowns. It was the late 1960's, and shreds of innocence and imagination still existed for children. Electronic games were unheard of. Kids played with trucks in the sand, Barbie dolls and early Etch-A-Sketch.

Ruth Ann DuBois was one of those little girls playing dress-up. She is now married, a homeowner, businesswoman and a special Aunt to quite a few nieces and nephews, but she never forgot the simple pleasure of imaginary play with a friend.

As a teenager, Ruth (known as Ruthie back then) began to do amateur theater, resulting in a closet full of costumes, which she kept over the years. She invited the girl cousins for slumber parties, where, after getting their fill of pizza, the highlight of the evening was dressing up in Aunt Ruthie's costumes. The girls could just relax and be whoever struck their fancy, or just be kids for a while.

The tradition continues today at Aunt Ruthie's Tea Time on Indy's west side, where Ruth and her husband Steve live in a comfortable older home. The property happens to include a little cottage, which they have renovated and transformed into a Victorian Tearoom, complete with period decor, fully-equipped kitchen and of course, a well stocked dress-up room ready for private luncheons and parties for all ages and occasions.

Ruth brings to her parties the business skills she has honed from twenty years in the transportation industry. She mainly arranges parties these days, saying "I love to hear people laugh and tell stories. Family groups that connect young and older people are especially heartwarming. I enjoy watching youngsters, even two-year olds, become instant young ladies and gentlemen while they listen to older folk's stories, play games, sing, eat and help each other do crafts."

She says it's magical when people get dressed up in one of her more than one hundred party dresses, tuxedo jackets, hats and accessories and suddenly become giggly children or proper ladies and gentlemen for an afternoon.

You are sure to have a truly unique experience at Aunt Ruthie's Tea Time.