Papa

I realized last week that this July 4th marks the 12th anniversary of my father's death, meaning that I am about to embark on a time in my life where I've spent more of it without him than with him (I was 12 when he died). I don't even know what to think about this, to be honest. Part of me feels a sense of relief, thinking that some of the intense pain and missing will start to feel better. I almost imagine it as plunging my body into a cold bath of water, how painful and shocking that is, but as time goes by, the longer I stay in, the more I get used to the feeling. The water never stops being cold. I just learn how to feel better in it.

Idus Martias

ACT I.

SCENE II. A public place.

Flourish. Enter CAESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer
CAESAR
Calpurnia!

CASCA
Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.

CAESAR
Calpurnia!

CALPURNIA
Here, my lord.

CAESAR
Stand you directly in Antonius' way,
When he doth run his course. Antonius!

ANTONY
Caesar, my lord?

CAESAR
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.

ANTONY
I shall remember:
When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.

CAESAR
Set on; and leave no ceremony out.

Flourish

Soothsayer
Caesar!

CAESAR
Ha! who calls?

CASCA
Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!

CAESAR
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR
What man is that?

BRUTUS
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

CAESAR
Set him before me; let me see his face.

CASSIUS
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.

CAESAR
What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR
He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

Oh Yeah!

Today, I went back to the seventh grade. I took a field trip with an association I volunteer teach for in Gueret. We took about 75 kids to a theme park called Futuroscope which is "based upon multimedia, cinematographic futorscope and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world." (Thanks Wikipedia).

The day started off pleasantly with the little turds making sex noises the entire 2.5 hour drive to Poitiers (the city where the park is located). Much to my surprise, none of the adults felt the desire to censor their lude conversations.

My group of seven 13 year old girls decided to fight over holding my hands and sitting next to me at every single show we went to. The boys, girl crazy and interested in 'practicing' their English with an American, followed closely behind us, pretending to hate us and not keeping their eyes off us the entire day. "My name is...!" "Hello!" "Xylophone!"

Xylophone?

What felt like 16 million Omnitheatre experiences later, I was back on the bus with my kids on our way home to Gueret. Something smelled and I told the girl next to me that I smelled cheese. She looked me like I was crazy and then said "Yeah, it smells like a really ripe Camembert or maybe a Reblochon." Oh French teenagers, I love you.

Spring Has SPRUNG!

I spent the entire day with sister-wife and brother-husband, lounging in Limoges.

Barefeet.
60 degrees.
Dark French Beer.
Who could ask for anything more?