My friend Ann and I were eating at a Chinese restaurant. 

When an elderly waiter set chopsticks at our places, Ann made a point of reaching into her purse and pulling out her own pair. 

"As an environmentalist," she declared, "I do not approve of destroying bamboo forests for throwaway utensils."

The waiter inspected her chopsticks. 

"Very beautiful," he said politely.  "Ivory."