The SPECTACLE

Spectacle is French for obscure theater experience that could be anything from a hardcore rock concert to a one man comedy routine to the Philharominc Orchestra. Yesterday was Lucas's birthday (the youngest of the Piani clan) and he was turning 13. So naturally, an outing to a "Spectacle" had been planned. We were meant to leave around 730 and we did. We arrived at this theater and had drinks which is still a strange thing for me. Anyway, the Spectacle started around 830 and it was an orchestral quartet, but they played everything from normal orchestra music to jimi hendrix. It was really cool actually the sounds they got from the violins, cellos, basses and violas they were playing. They also goofed around and made jokes and stuff, so it was pretty funny. We got home around 11 and started to cook dinner, which is a classic French move. We finished dinner, exchanged gifts, had cake and did all the other little birthday things that one does when it's someone's birthday. The birthday celebratory dinner, itself, was very similar to an American one. Also, France one their uber-important rugby match against Ireland, so spirits in general were high. It was a really nice, and fun night, and I have to say I felt like I understood the conversation pretty decently and that I was "one of the guys."