Monday, July 14 is Bastille day. If you find yourself in NYC, go over to MacDougal Street, between Houston and Spring Street and just east of 6th Avenue. Enjoy the block party.
I have the most wonderful memory of my mother joining some of my children, there tre cool friends, and moi, about ten years ago for the celebration. At 82, she had taken the LIRR in to Penn Station from Northport, and then a subway, "to have some fun."
There is an ongoing bocce ball game set up in the street and some of the local French, and not so French, restaurants, have a little tournament. There is great food, beverages, music, and much spontaneity.
On this particular day, at some point, musicians began to play the Marseilles. My mother, my very Irish mother, stood up, broke into song and encouraged the crowd to sing with her ... IN FRENCH! As she bowed to rousing cheers and applause when the song ended, I could only wonder if this was the same woman who raised nine children on the "don't ever do anything where someone can point a finger at you, and don't be calling attention to yourself" mantra.
Perhaps it was her longterm memory getting better, as she got older, perhaps it was the Chardonnay, or perhaps it was her Child Artist ... still doing while she could.
Whatever it was, it was a wonderful afternoon.

3 comments:
okay ... so there should be their.
and okay again ... beverages should be beverage ... since the verb is singular.
What a delightful story about your mother. she must have been full of lust for life and zest! I wish I could have been there, and I also hope that I am that alive at 82. Who cares if there is their and beverages is beverage, when the story is so wonderful. Unless of course your editor is reading this... Wish I didn't have to work on Bastille Day.
Roni
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