Cheap Date
This being a Friday, and the day before rt_hon_rackman's birthday, we did our standard cheap date; meet at Epcot and eat fish and chips in the quiet area behind the England pavilion. Today we got a treat because the Beatles tribute band was playing. Gillian loves them; even before she was two, she danced along and enjoyed their music.
We ate while we waited for showtime, and then rt_hon_rackman and Gillian ran through the hedge maze that winds around the stage. (Every time I see a maze of hedges, I think one thing: don't touch the trophy, Cedric!) They came back to the bench when the band came out, but many kids kept running around while the musicians played. That has to be distracting, but I guess if you are a performer at Disney, you learn to deal with children running around. At least it's a steady gig, and no one is likely to throw a bottle at your head. (If someone did, the Disney MiBs would descend on him en masse, drag him backstage, and hold him down while Mickey laughed and put the boot in.)
The weather was beautiful, and the crowd was really enjoying the music. Gillian and I danced up a storm, and I did some bad things to my back doing the swing dance maneuvers I used to do with her when she weighed less. There were three forty-something ladies all wearing viking helmets complete with braids, and they were dancing in a line. Behind them was a line of sixty-something ladies doing moves reminiscent of the Supremes. It occured to me that they grew up as this music was being created.
All of these generations enjoying the music made me think about the nights in my childhood when my dad got out his guitar, or mom sat down at the piano, and we sang songs together as our evening entertainment. I had no idea who the Beatles were then, but I did know all the words to Yesterday. (It was in 100 Popular Songs.) I sometimes regret that the only instrument I can really use is my voice. I'd like to gather my family around and play for them. But Gillian and I sing together alot, and sometimes play the recorder a bit, and as this post demonstrates, she is still getting a chance to hear live Beatles' tunes.
The concert finished up, and as the band came off stage, the viking ladies asked if they would be in a picture with them. Half the audience hung around, unable to walk away from the sight of the horned helmets and Beatles wigs all in one place. One of the ladies asked, "Who's George?" A bemused not-Beatle said, "I am." "He's my favorite!" she yelled, and had a picture with him.
After an abortive attempt to see some princesses (those bitches are elusive), we headed home, happy with our evening of family and music.
We ate while we waited for showtime, and then rt_hon_rackman and Gillian ran through the hedge maze that winds around the stage. (Every time I see a maze of hedges, I think one thing: don't touch the trophy, Cedric!) They came back to the bench when the band came out, but many kids kept running around while the musicians played. That has to be distracting, but I guess if you are a performer at Disney, you learn to deal with children running around. At least it's a steady gig, and no one is likely to throw a bottle at your head. (If someone did, the Disney MiBs would descend on him en masse, drag him backstage, and hold him down while Mickey laughed and put the boot in.)
The weather was beautiful, and the crowd was really enjoying the music. Gillian and I danced up a storm, and I did some bad things to my back doing the swing dance maneuvers I used to do with her when she weighed less. There were three forty-something ladies all wearing viking helmets complete with braids, and they were dancing in a line. Behind them was a line of sixty-something ladies doing moves reminiscent of the Supremes. It occured to me that they grew up as this music was being created.
All of these generations enjoying the music made me think about the nights in my childhood when my dad got out his guitar, or mom sat down at the piano, and we sang songs together as our evening entertainment. I had no idea who the Beatles were then, but I did know all the words to Yesterday. (It was in 100 Popular Songs.) I sometimes regret that the only instrument I can really use is my voice. I'd like to gather my family around and play for them. But Gillian and I sing together alot, and sometimes play the recorder a bit, and as this post demonstrates, she is still getting a chance to hear live Beatles' tunes.
The concert finished up, and as the band came off stage, the viking ladies asked if they would be in a picture with them. Half the audience hung around, unable to walk away from the sight of the horned helmets and Beatles wigs all in one place. One of the ladies asked, "Who's George?" A bemused not-Beatle said, "I am." "He's my favorite!" she yelled, and had a picture with him.
After an abortive attempt to see some princesses (those bitches are elusive), we headed home, happy with our evening of family and music.