Dulcinea, Oclupaca, Duke Ellington & The Rocket At The Farm
Monday, October 04, 2010
I do not have the routine of sitting down at a particular time of the day to write for this blog. In some cases I write a day late or in this instance I am writing for tomorrow Monday my feelings on this weekend which had been a good one.
On Saturday when the girls showed up at noon, we drove up to the farm in Richmond. It is right by 99 on the East side of the Steveston exit. We parked the Rocket by the farm equipment, far from all the crowded parking lots which would be potential hazards for The Rocket’s pristine paint job. The girls and Rosemary spent some time peeling back corn to find ears that they thought would be sweet and tender. We bought fruit and vegetables and had a great time. I took some pictures of Lauren and of Rebecca by an ancient wooden wagon. The light was low in contrast so I was happy with the results.
At home the girls sat down in the garden, under the thuja, and worked on getting at a pomegranate. Lauren had never had one so I watched her in delight. Some day I will tell her that there is only one way to eat one. It consists in taking every little red gem and putting it in a large cup. Then, when they are all in the cup, you pour them into your mouth in one swoop!
Via Facebook I had invited Rebecca to accompany me on Saturday night for a performance of ”external”>Don Quijote at the Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island. I had seen the show a few days before on opening night with Rosemary. I had the idea that Rebecca would find it funny. In my Facebook communication I told Rebecca I was going to dress up and that she just might want to do so, also. I told her we would go for hot chocolate after the performance.
In the afternoon I watched Lauren tie one of Sparkle’s (her stuffed cat) to a chair rung. I asked what was happening and Lauren told me, “Sparkle has broken a leg so she has it in traction. I am her nurse.”
Rebecca wore a beautiful black dress and she had her hair done so that she looked absolutely glamorous. She laughed and laughed at the play. I was astounded to find that the almost full house may have had only one person under 18 and that was Rebecca (13). I wonder what it will take before parents in our city realize that taking children to the theatre does not have to be only to a children’s play. It is for this reason that I almost always avoid children’s festivals.
We went to Death by Chocolate on Fur and West Broadway and our Ghirardelli hot chocolate was a thin concoction that barely tasted of chocolate. This, our first time at Death by Chocolate will be our last. I took Rebecca home and when I got to my own, I found Rosemary and Lauren fast asleep.
On Sunday morning my wife dispatched me to Hilary’s house to deliver Lauren. On our way Lauren was loudly stomping her feet against the back of the car seat. I asked her why she was doing this. “I like the music you are playing.” This proud grandfather was beside himself, after all she was in delight of Duke Ellington – Latin American Suite, and the tune in question was Oclupaca (Acapulco backwards!) which has some very loud and wonderful jungle drumming.
When we arrived, Rebecca’s other grandmother commented on our evening out to the theatre and she told me, “I cannot remember the name of Don Quijote’s girl.” “Ask Rebecca,” I told her. And, of course, Rebecca said, “Dulcinea.” At age 13 I wonder how many of her generation know that?
