Notes from the Isle of Wight

So I had a BLAST last weekend on the Isle of Wight. I decided that everyone should have the experience of going on holiday with a coach (that means bus) full of British line dancers. What a hoot! I learned a lot of slang, too. Like, they refer to Portsmouth as "Pompy." ("Did you get the ferry from Pompy?" Blank look from Chloe.)

I have to say that Saturday night was probably the most hilarious and humiliating night of my life. You might wonder, how can something be hilarious and humiliating at the same time? Well, the duo that performed that evening were quite 'interactive' with the audience. And they were really funny... except their jokes were all kind of dirty. And guess who got picked on for the whole night? Yeah... so it was laugh hysterically or die of embarrassment right there on the spot. I'm used to being noticible at line dance, being a generation or two younger than everyone else and all. And if not for that, hanging about with Ian is enough to get you noticed (OK, maybe more like goofing off with Ian on the dance floor). However, I'm not used to being the center of attention in quite that way, and when I could have lightened things up, I just froze (and turned red). I think it was good that I had the experience, uncomfortable as it was.

So Sunday night was some self-inflicted center of attention time, and I decided any inhibitions I had about it were wiped out after Saturday! I hate posting song lyrics but here is just the beginning of the song so you can get an idea of the "character" I played for 4 minutes and 6 seconds:

SUDS IN THE BUCKET (sung by Sara Evans)

She was in the backyard - they say it was a little past nine
When her prince pulled up - a white pickup truck
Her folks shoulda seen it comin' - it was only just a matter of time
Plenty old enough - and you can't stop love
She stuck a note on the screen door - "sorry but I got to go"
That was all she wrote - her mama's heart was broke
That was all she wrote - so the story goes

1st Chorus
Now her daddy's in the kitchen - starin' out the window
Scratchin' and a rackin' his brains
How could 18 years just up and walk away?
Our little pony-tailed girl grown up to be a woman
Now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket
And the clothes hangin' out on the line

So I wore a costume of tatty capris, plaid shirt, bare feet, pigtails, and suds in my hair, and ran around causing havoc while people tried to line dance :) Climbing over chairs to sit on Ted's lap, stealing money out of Ian's wallet, putting on fresh lipstick to kiss Andy on the cheek, jumping into John's arms at the end. It was a lot of fun. I could do it because I was "performing" and because it was a character that was completely not me. But it was alot harder because I wasn't performing on a stage, and running around in character, among people I know, was definitely out of the comfort zone. So another stretching experience, though I must say it was a lot more fun- and cleaner- than Saturday night. I'll post a pic when I get one.

And- last thought- I come away feeling more and more thankful for Sarah and Ian, who always treat me as family. I praise You God, for sending me such good friends.

Emily Margaret Tinne

Yesterday, in the Walker Art Gallery, I came across a selection of clothing they had displayed, just a few items from the masses of clothing they own, from Victorian times to present day. And the 20s black evening dress on display was owned by none other than my great-grandmother, Emily Margaret Tinne. One of the museum staff came by just then and said something like, "Oh everyone stops and looks at that one, you could wear it today, couldn't you?" So I told him it was my great-grandmothers, and he took me to the computer screen in the corner where you could find out more about each outfit, and it had all kind of information about Emily, and her clothes. Get this- they have over 700 items of her clothing. Apparently she was a major shop-a-holic. With too much money. When she died, her daughter Alexine- that's my great-aunt that I'm visiting here in Liverpool- donated the 50 or so trunks of clothing to the Museum. Many things still have the price tags on! They're having an exibition of her clothes at the end of April- I shall have to make an attempt to come back and see it.

It was really interesting, and really cool to be in a place where I have so much family history, and at the same time kind of mindblowing how she could aquire so much stuff that she never even wore. Is it any wonder I've seen the tendency to buy and hoard more and more stuff, to find security in owning material possesions, passed down through subsequent generations? I hope I never fall into the same pattern...

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/craftdesign/puttingstyle/eveningdress.asp


A Passion for Fashion: A Liverpool Lady's Wardrobe
29 April to 30 July 2006
Browse through the fabulous wardrobe of a true shopaholic! Mrs Tinne, bought extensively from many Liverpool shops and dressmakers during the 1920s and '30s. Visitors to this exhibition will be delighted by the array of wonderful daywear, eveningwear, coats, swimwear and accessories she collected and lovingly preserved.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a publication about the Mrs Tinne collection.
http://www.artinliverpool.com/moreinfo/nmlwalkerjan06.htm

Strange experience

So it now seems quite normal to be able to get on a plane and in a couple short hours emerge in a different country speaking a foreign language. But yesterday, as I was journeying up to Liverpool, it was quite bizarre to get off to change trains at Newport, less than two hours from Salisbury, and see and hear signs and announcements in another language. I had no idea I was going to be travelling through Wales! The whole thing was kind of strange. Someday soon I'll have to spend more than 30 min in Wales.

And that my friends, is my thuoght for the day.

The moon is my new mascot

Yesterday morning when I bowed my head to pray, the words "sun, moon and stars" ran through my mind. I have no idea why. OK Lord, thanks for the sun, the moon and the stars. So I started thinking about those things... they all give light- actually, that's not true. The moon doesn't give off light. The moon reflects light. It has no light in of itself. I don't know why it never occured to me before, but we should be like the moon. Lord, I want to reflect your light and shine your love to those around me.