Last Year's Talent Show

Another Old Post - but a proud parental moment can always be relived:

Multi-cultural Night and Talent Show
June 15, 2006

It is with the pride that comes from being a parent that I write today. Last night my daughter's school held a Multi-Cultural Night and Talent Show.

Her school has a great variety of cultures - and nights like last night - give a place for all families to show pride in their cultural heritage. The evening started with an outdoor buffet style dinner - $2 per plate and the choices seemed endless. Families had prepared a great variety of cultural food dishes - each with a description and the flag from their country.

After my daughter and I had filled our plates we found a spot on the lawn to sit, eat, (while many introductions to friends were made) and wait for her Dad and her Grandmother to arrive.

I was very proud of my daughter's conduct, and pleased to see her so happy to introduce a great many of her friends to me throughout the course of the evening. The closest friends were all very polite, well spoken young ladies. 3 in particular that stand out.

My daughter's dad arrived just as her choir assembled outside to sing about 4-5 songs just prior to the start of the talent show. She did such a great job - with great expression, a clear voice, and a general happiness in her eyes at the opportunity to show off for the people she cares about.

I momentarily paused to consider how fortunate I was - that despite being divorced from her Dad since she was 3 (5 years now) that we were able to stand side by side with pride, watch our daughter, and know that despite everything else - we have done a very good job with her.

We then proceeded to go into the school's gymnasium - trying to scout out a spot near the front in order to have optimal viewing. Early in the evening after work - when my daughter and I were at home (only to discover our power had been out all afternoon and was not yet on) I gave her a pep talk and told her how proud I was of her. I printed out notes from my Mom and her Dad - wishing her luck and letting her know they were proud of her - and suggested she keep it in her pocket for luck.

After numerous other children, playing piano, singing, skipping, yo-yoing, karate moves, gymnastic routines etc - it was her turn. She walked right up onto that stage, stood in front of the microphone, smiled a nervous smile, and made eye-contact with her teacher, .... the music started and the clearest, high little voice started to sing in French, the following;

Au clair de la lune
Mon ami Pierrot.
Prête moi ta plume
Pour écrire un mot

Ma chandelle est morte,
Je n'ai plus de feu ;
Ouvre-moi ta porte
Pour l'amour de Dieu.
Which translates into English the following;

With the moonlight
My friend Pierrot.
Lend to me your feather
To write a word

My candle died,
I do not have any more fire;
Open-me your door
For the love of God.

She did such an amazing job - and she smiled at us both in the middle of her performance and with relief at the end as she took her bow.

We clapped and cheered with great pride.... it's moments like these that make all the hard work more than worthwhile. We walked her guests out to their car and said our goodbye's. I was shocked - my ex-mother-in law (that sounds a little harsh) even hugged me good-bye. Times they are a changing - and I must count my blessings where I find them.

What an evening!