SECONDAIRE EN SPECTACLE = TOO SWELL

Actually, swell is quite an understatement, great, fantastic, terrific evening for lack of better words.

It could easily put Canadian or American idol to shame.

I knew the school had talent, but I was still quite amazingly surprised this year.



Originally, I was supposed to show up at around 7:15 due to a prior appointment( hairdresser )but was informed by René-Olivier Coté and Joël Chassé that they were early in the evening`s line-up and I should be there on time if I didn`t want to miss them.
Didn`t want to miss the boys so I was on a mision: make it on time- do or die !

I wasn`t late but barely made it.

I got to school at 7:02, my hair totally wet ( had to convince my hairdresser NOT to dry my hair because I didn`t want to be late).
6:45 -I`m in Trois-rivières, jump in my truck, gear it on 4x4, put Remedy by Seether on and floor it.
Don`t worry, I totally respected the road code and maximum speed ( I am a mom and don`t want to orphan my kids ).
7:01 I am in the school`s parking lot and literally jump out of the truck and run in the school ( last time I ran in the school I injured myself but it will surely be worth it if I do ) .
I felt like I was on an episode of Starsky and Hutch while I was running with a 5 dollar bill in hand.
Then I see Fred Hamel and Lysandre Désilets next to the auditorium`s door.
During my sprint towards her, Lysandre yells at me : " Annie, Chick and Swell are coming on !"
Without any hesitation, I threw my 5 dollar bill at Fred and yell : " I`ll be back for the change ."
I finally made it for their act in the nick of time.
I`m wet, out of breath ,look stupid but I`m there and ready for the show.
Or so I thought.....
Their bit was funnier than I anticipated- these boys crack me up on a daily basis and they`re not even trying to be funny so imagine when they do.
Thanks Dany Jutras, René-Olivier, Joël for the great laugh.
It was sooooooo worth it !!
René-Olivier is back with a song he wrote " La Nuit Sans Les Etoiles ".
I don`t know who he wrote this song for but she`s a lucky girl.
Just great.
One very pleasant surprise was seeing and hearing Karianne St.Cyr , one of my kids in Sec.4 singing Evangéline.
Sweet voice. I had no ideea she could sing, let alone sing so well.
Then came " Valse Des Bois " played by Alexis Chassé, Marc-Antoine Fleurant and Loriane Richard.
That was no surprise, these kids love and breathe music.
I often see Lorianne with her her violin case- they`re inseparable.

Next up was an act I was totally unprepared for.
" Une Histoire Frappante "
Set up :
piano : Etienne Bergeron
Intro : Fannie Bourdages : Announces right off the bat that this a true story . She wrote the act .
As I am writing I have goose bumps remembering the act.
Elisabeth Provencher on the violin
Etienne Thibault : guitar- wrote the music score.
Joël Chassé and Amélie Lemire Champagne standing front stage .
The music begins and Joël and Amélie interpret ( act and dance ) the vicious circle of violence.
Abuse, violence, family violence, conjugal violence, verbal abuse or violence, it was all there and NOT ONE WORD WAS SPOKEN.
It didn`t need any, it was that powerful.
I stopped breathing ( literally ) 30 seconds in the act and wept my eyes out.
I could not stop weeping.
I totally was gone for 5 minutes . it got hold of me llike there was no tomorrow.
Last thing I know, it`s over, I catch my breath, wipe my eyes and remember I`m in the school auditorium.
Oh my god.
After that, I left.
I had to go back home because Pierre needed to go to Trois-Rivières but I would have left anyway, I was upset and just wanted to go home to hug my kids and husband.
It was that good.
I get home, Pierrre is waiting for me in the garage and I`m still weeping.
Pierre thinks something bad happened to me.
I reassure him but it takes me a while to catch my bearings and explain what I had just witnessed.
Pierre leaves.
I go hug and kiss my kids, jump in my pyjamas, sip a cup of herbal tea and questions come to mind:
How can a 16 year-old come up with something so powerful without using a single syllable and be able get such a message across ?
How can this young man and woman interpret such a powerful emotion that is being a victim of violence or being an abuser without having lived it personally ? Have they ? If not how could they interpret it so truthfully ?
And why is it that an hour later, I`m still upset with what I saw ?
They so hit the nail on the head here. They also hit a nerve. A sensitive one.

I got to know who the winners were first thing the next morning.
Georges and I discuss the evening and how we enjoyed it again this year.
He asks me if I`m going to see the finals in April in Vicoriaville.
Sure I am, I wouldn`t miss this for the world.
So it`s official I will be there. I`ll be on the bus organized by Capt.Georges so go buy your tickets and be prepared to be dazzled.

SNOW DAY
February 7th was our annual Snow Day.
Since Pierre was going to Bromont and coming back late, I stayed at school in order to pick up my kids after school.
I did go bowling with the students who stayed at school.
Who came with me : no other than my favorite French teacher : Katherine Bourgeois.
My supermodel tall Katou and I can not, shouldn`t , can not sit together at serious meetings on Ped.Days because we just giggle all the time.
We instantly turn 5 years old.
But on a snow day, there`s no stopping us !
We had more fun than the students.
My supermodel tall buddy has style, she`s got grace.
And the girl can bowl.
Me on the other hand....
Katherine had to remind me in the middle of our second game : " Annie, aren`t you left-handed because you`re bowling with the right one ? "
"AAAAh that`s why I suck out loud at this sport ! "
I changed hand and sucked even more.
Hey, I`m an intellectual ! I`m not manual.
I don`t cook ( Katherine likes to remind me of this EVERYDAY lately ).
I can`t even nail a nail on the wall but I have so many other talents.
I make a mean cheesecake though.
Katou, I love you.
I had a great day thanks to you.
Thanks for the supermodel Reitman poses you do so well in the school corridor.

Speaking of, here`s an example of how good I am manually:
One fine Sunday afternoon, I decide to hang ballet ornaments in Rose`s room.
I come in her bedroom with nails and hammer in hand and mentally ready to accomplish the task at hand.
" Mommy, what are you doing ? " she says.
" I `m gonna hang your ballet decorations once and for all Rose, it`s way due ."
Rosie : " You can do that mom ? "
Not-Too-Convincing Mom : " Sure I can do this Rosie !! "
Rosie : " Where`s dad ?"
Baffled Mom: " Daddy`s downstairs, why ? "
Rosie : " I think he should do it, I don`t think you can mom "
Pissed- off Mom : " Sure I can- Watch me "
Mom starts hammering the nail and the daughter witnesses the nail going totally through the wall- in the wall-the nail disappears.
Rosie : " Daddy, I think you should come here and help mom !! "
Pierre hung the decorations finally.
I swear to God this is a true story.
My six-year-old already knows I am a total loser when it comes to fixing things and knows I am so much better at breaking stuff.
So what- who does she run to when it`s time to bake cookies - when she`s hurt- her heart is breaking-she needs a hug and a kiss- to tuck her in at night ?
Momma.
So mamma is no Martha Stewart- so what.

On that,
TaTA
Annie