Well, that's it. I got back to Calgary with Mel on the 17th. Driving back into the city was like entering a new dimension that I had blocked from my consciousness. Being in Ponteix will remain a precious moment in my memory, shared with absolutely amazing people from our group and the town of Ponteix.
Being part of Windblown/ RAAAFAALES was a blessing. I flew on a high of creativity, laughter, raunchy jokes, puns, spontaneous hugs, soccer and frisbee games in the gym, cooking, doing dishes, getting lost in the dark as rain fell on my bed from the worst hail storm since 1955 (I quote Laurent Thibault, here). I will remember this family that I had and loved intensely for two weeks.
Being the tocken French person on hand, I have to say I had a strange role. Pronouncing my name became a hopeless task as Derek was able to say it one second and then butcher it the next. I finally became "Oooh genie". In 23 years in Canada, that is the newest version of my name. I love it.
The show went very well. I didn't expect so many people to come, especially during the pilgrimage. I enjoyed engaging with our audience and making them laugh as I mimicked the "noise" of bits of conversations of the Ponteix Bakery and Cafe, where I made a lot of Friends.
Some people approached me and said we had "touched them to the core", that we had managed to "get" Ponteix, its history, its people. I am so proud of us for achieving this.
Camille's initial speech about the crisis of the dimishing francophone people out West, their language disappearing and their need to belong and to find their place was applauded. Camille's my daughter by the way, yep.
I also have to say that Andy is amazing. The day before the show, during our "dressed rehearsal", everything went crazy and not as planned. It was a zoo. He remained calm. I would have lost it. He encouraged us to keep doing what we were doing.
So, to all my team, I would like to say this:
Melanie, you are the other sister I knew I had. I have found you. Let's keep laughing out loud.
Ken, you are and always will be my gentle giant, with a touch for spontaneous fits of giggling laughter. You are the only Anglophone I know who was able to "fix" his pronunciation in French in half an hour.
Phil, you are a whirlwind of energy and organization, with fits of laughter and insanity. Please get some sleep.
Derek, I enjoyed our time together, marching to get water, marching through the school, and playing soccer in the gym. Yoga was fantastic too. I can now chew my toe nails.
Andy, I think you need another bottle of listerine and I love the way you run all the time. I do love your English accent with a slight happy twist which "tooches" me...
Regina, your quiet disposition didn't hide very well your intelligence and kindness... and an awesome sense of humour. It was interesting getting our names mutated all the time.
Melanie and Naomi, your arrival was a blessing: volleyball and dancing, with my girls in particular, and your friendly personalities was like you'd been with us since the beginning.
Yep. I loved you guys and I wouldn't have traded any of you for anything.
Ponteix to me, was about you.
Well, now, I have to grow up severely and face the bills and responsibilities I had so joyfully escaped for a sweet two weeks.
When is the next project?
(I speak Spanish too)
Love,
Eugénie
Labels: ode to my team