Looking through the limited photos that I have from France, I notice a lot of photos of the many soiree's at L'Ermitage. I have so many photos of them all that they all get jumbled together into one big party.
These parties consisted of mostly drinking and more drinking. Scotch and Perrier was the drink of choice and then wine. Pat preferred the wine and was quite a 'wino' when I arrived with the girls. A good bottle costed a mere $3.00 and when I say good, I'm comparing to a 'good' bottle here in Minnesota that would go for $30.00. Myself, I drank coke.
At these parties however, there was a lot of entertainment. Music and mystical dancing is how I can best describe it. Nej the ballerina would put on her own little recital for all of us, Natele, Lana, Baja, and Collere would dance like there was no one watching. So much feeling and somehow they managed to meld together like a beautiful painting. As they danced, it was as if all of us spectators were in a trance, peaceful, stress free, and simply euphoric. There was never a dull moment at L'Ermitage.
On some nights they would put on plays. One night they re-enacted a scene from Les Miserables. It was a birthday present for "Magic Fingers". Well, not only did they perform it wonderfully but all of us found out something new about the old 'Magic'. He was a pretty good ballroom dancer. Him and Frederic, another member of L'Ermitage, were just tearing up the floor, getting into it and all of the sudden as he is trapsing across the floor one way to meet her his elbow met up with her cheek and her head snapped back and she got 'wobbled'. This of course ended the scene but Frederic was ok, thankfully. Getting whacked in the face by a man the size of the Green Giant could really do some damage.
I remember also shortly after I arrived there, I was asked to be in an 'actual' play that they put on for a number of people, one not performed in the house but somewhere else. I wasn't expected to speak thank god, just 'look good' as they put it. Pat and I both were asked to do this and I, being nervous simply speaking to a room of strangers felt my stomach go into my throat. They had it all planned out who would watch our kids and everything else. I simply wasn't going to have any excuse to back out of this.
It was a play that the family had written themselves. It was very similar to the Three Muskateers. It is a vague memory for both Pat and myself. I was still a little jet lagged at the time and way out of my element. It took place in the Victorian era and all of us girls donned the dresses of old and the men in their handsome get-ups. I was so lost but do remember one thing...the applause at the end and the relief I felt. Ugh, I was so nervous. Part of my memory lapse is probably due to nerves.
My part in the play was as an extra and all I had to do was stand there and pretend that I was working over something. It wasn't even anything to be nervous about but all the same, I had to avoid looking up and seeing all the eyes that were watching or I may have passed out. I also remember that I was blushing horribly...I'm definately not cut out for that sort of thing.
Each and every Friday and Saturday night we would spend at L'Ermitage watching the most raw entertainment one could imagine. The images I have of these are still firmly embedded in my head along with that peaceful euphoric feeling. I often times have to force myself to close my eyes and remember that simple life we had for only a brief time and cherish it with everything that I am. It helps me to remember that nothing in life is forever, just borrowed.
We would often just stay the night so the kids could sleep and we could stay up until the wee hours just being. We would wake in the mornings and sit at the table with Patrova and Natele sipping tea and eating toast and jam while talking quietly about what was ahead for the day.
Our house that we lived in was called La Maison du Stress not only by our French friends but also all the locals in the area. But that round of the story is yet to come. There was a reason for that name, a very good reason.....
No comments:
Post a Comment