10.05.2012

karaoke in marseille

There are a lot of good things about me.  I like myself.  But I have come to terms with the fact that there are several things I'm not.

I am not silly. 
I'm the practical person.  Children do not flock to me, as I encourage "inside voices" and drawing with chalk over dressing up as exotic sea creatures and throwing slime on people as they walk by. I don't even really "get" Monty Python.  I'm trying to remember the last time I was just plain SILLY and nothing comes to mind. 


I am not spontaneous.
I'm a planner.  I like lists.  I like agendas.  I like having at least a general idea of what might occur in any given situation.


I am not meant to be in the spotlight.
I love being in the background.  I really do.  I don't feel left out and I honestly, truly, enjoy refilling your cocktail and cleaning up after you.  (well, to a certain extent...)


Which is why my memory of singing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John/George Michael at a karaoke bar in Marseille, France, is so precious to me.  I was there for 3 days, with a woman who did not speak any English.  She loved going to sing karaoke and took me with her and MADE me sing.  Since I was several countries away from anyone I knew, I obliged.  The Elton John song was pretty much the only song I recognized in the booklet, hence the choice.  All I knew was the chorus, but I made it work.  But I was spontaneous, silly and in the spotlight for at least that one moment in time. And that's enough for me.







7 comments:

Silver Strands said...

*made me giggle*

Knitrageous said...

Love you just the way you are!!!

sarahsmile3 said...

This is why we are good together. I am silly, spontaneous, and prefer the spotlight. We go together, like ram-a-lam-a-lama-da-ding-a-di-ding-a-dong.

Good post!

Pat said...

I'm afraid you inherited all those traits from me! Au contraire on the kids not flocking to you--they LOVE spending time with Aunt Bee...and you always seem to know just what to do with them! Gosh--just realized you are Jessica's opposite!

The JP Behnkes said...

And I think this is why we get along. I am not silly; I am not spontaneous; I fear the spotlight. I don't even think I could have pulled off French Karoke! And I agree with your mom - children do flock to you! They love Aunt Bee. :) And I love her clean house, her orderly life, her modest and dignified fashion-sense, her quiet service, so I let them flock away. :)

Amy said...

Um...I disagree! I can think of a time you were each of those things (all happened to be in the hotel lobby) just a few weeks ago...and that other time you did impromptu karaoke on 4th Street, that was pretty silly and spontaneous! I love it all!

Christine said...

hahaha! What a fun memory :)