Monday, December 11, 2006

Feeling Uninspired and The First Time I Saw A Male Majorette
(a career change in the works?)

Ugh. I'm not sure if it's the weather or just plain laziness, but I don't want to plan for lessons or even leave the house. I'm waiting until I get to go home for Christmas...I'm just soooooo ready. I've been enjoying my life in France again, though, so it's not really homesickness. It's just blah gray cold rainy days and a chilly apartment. Call me up a fire in the fireplace and a good book...maybe a little Johnny Cash...and call me content. Kicks from the baby are still good, too. Just Do Not Want to Work.

In weekend news, my sister-in-law was here and we hung out for a bit. We went to Chartres on Saturday, where we just wandered around looking at random stuff and enjoying the Christmas decorations. We had decided to head toward the cathedral when we turned a corner and I heard Madonna's Like A Virgin blaring from a tent set up for the Telethon (don't ask me what the Telethon is for because I don't know). One of us -- quite possibly me -- made a smart-aleck comment about that not being a song one often hears near a cathedral when I saw something that just made my day...Chartres' very own child/teenaged majorette club, complete with a twirling boy in shiny purple pants. Yup, that's right, there are baton-twirling kids not too far from where I live who love to dress up in white patent-leather boots, short skirts, and make up routines to Madonna.

Now, back in the day I had a few baton lessons myself. I was never what you'd call a fancy (or perhaps even talented) twirler but I know how to do a few tricks and march in time, so this gives me a little hope of a back-up in case I ever get burned out on teaching English. Still, not even in the height of the 80s would my momma have EVER let me go out in public in a miniskirt and twirl to Like a Virgin. These kids kept twirling right on through L.A.V. and through an Abba medley before my husband and sil dragged me away. The guy was in the back row, where it looked like they put the kids who had missed a few practices.

The overall style of the group was, well, totally unlike something I typically saw back home, but not bad. It was definitely French and more low-key in its manner...not exactly something you'd call perky. It really made me wonder how this whole group got formed -- where did this majorette envy come from? Was the guy there to meet girls, as a fill-in for a sick person, or just because he loves to twirl? (And why not, I say -- it's pretty fun once you stop being afraid of knocking your teeth out). Who teaches them -- some fellow American expat with a unique skill and an eye for business? Where do they buy their batons, not to mention the outfits? Since there's not an Independence Day parade, on which other occasions do they perform? Bastille Day? Would French kids want to know how to learn how to clog? What other random things could I possibly be able to market into cold, hard cash for diapers?

One thing's for sure...I'll be rummaging around in the basement to find my baton over Christmas. Just in case.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Ok, first of all, I was told what the teleton was on friday but since I went to Amsterdam this weekend, I don't remember.

Second, he bought the purple pants in the Marais, I assure you.

Third, I am glad you are starting to like your life in France...I am at my wits end at the moment. Hope you enjoy your time home.

PutYourFlareOn said...

It's the weather! I feel it too. The lack of sunshine can really sap your moral. I'm holding out until spring time... you just have to every year. Lots of people leave on vacation now to get away from the gray.

Hang in there...

Anonymous said...

Need a little Christmas pick me up? AOL has a free online radio service in which they play a variety of music. I have been listening to their holiday selection and it's great! Really helps me get into the Christmas spirit!

http://music.aol.com/radioguide/bb.adp

Pardon My French said...

Thanks, Angela! Your comment made me laugh (seriously, you must have had some fun in Amsterdam). You have a safe trip home as well and I look forward to hearing about your trip. By the way, I've been trying to leave comments on your blog but can't, for whatever reason.

Aimee, it's weird how weather affects me, but it's good to know I'm not the only one. Today was even weird...sunny while I had to teach and then BAM! It got all foggy and cold. How did that happen so quickly?

Deb, Thanks for the tip! I'm always ready for some Christmas cheer.

angela said...

the Telethon is a 24 hour fund raising for charity extravaganza.
Our village effort was nearly all rained off unfortunately because a lot of effort had gone into planning the various events.
Baton twirling. I can't help with that but I think there used to be a club down here too at one point. It's just the sort of thing that girls love.
Line dancing's pretty big down here on the Cote d'Azur as well. Strange, isn't it?
Angela

Anonymous said...

I had a friend in France who use to be part of a majorettes group (no boys involved though...) and, yes, they use to perform for July 14 every year.

Pam said...

HO HO HO!

Happy Holidays to you and your family!