Posted by KVTaylor in So for anyone not keeping score, my parents and only sibling are all music teachers. Mom teaches elementary, Dad taught high school for 30-something years before retiring, and when he did, my brother Nick scored his job. When my dad was still pretty new to the game, he and two of his teaching cronies went to one of those medieval-themed dinner theater things– not quite Medieval Times, but some community thing. And they said, wtf, we can do this.
So they did. Dad made this entire bunch of high school kids– and it ranges from jocks to nerds, as choir was considered weirdly respectable at my high school– boys in tights and girls in dresses who do acappella stuff– most notably Madrigals. Which are awesome, by the way. And every year they put on a big, hilarious show where they’re the king, queen, and court of the kingdom of Muddye Brooke (since it’s Brooke High), and we’re the subjects invited to Christmas dinner. Really, really good dinner. Then they put on a side-splitting little show after everyone’s fed (this year it was “Night of the Whiny Dead”, which my brother wrote, and was about zombies. It was AWESOME), then sing to you, and you go home full and happy.
Anyhow when I was little, I’d get dressed up in a little page’s tunic and go serve bread/get in the way. Then I got older and moved up to a little dress and pouring water, coffee, and tea. Then I got ancient and was part of the show myself. Now I sit in the audience, and it’s my brother directing it.
I’m convinced this yearly family ritual is why I am:
1. A nerd.
2. Obsessed enough with Arthurian legend that when I was in grad school– for Himalayan Buddhist art history, incidentally– I took classes on the subject.
3. Addicted to fantasy novels.
Although all those can also be blamed more directly on my dad, who owns every fantasy novel ever written. In fact, I’ve just started Steven Erikson’s The Malazan Book of the Fallen series, which he lent me a year ago. I sort of swing back and forth between classics and genre for some reason, and having just polished off Barry Lydon, I feel it’s past time.
But since I’ve been running around for the past few weeks, I thought I’d tell you why, how it relates to what I write and read, and just in general what it is that this particular holiday is for me. But we’re home now, and for the forseeable future, so there will be no more of this catching up on a week’s of journal entries thing from me!
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Now playing: The Charlatans – Just When You’re Thinkin’ Things Over
via FoxyTunes
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I think you and your family are all wonderfully unique. It all sounds fantastic.
In my high school choir was as big as sports. No clue why, nor did it make me cool in any way shape or form ; )
That’s an awesome way to grow up.
My family did nothing anywhere near that cool.
Unique is a very nice way to put it, Cate. I will say it’s no wonder Nick and I are both ridiculous artist-types, anyhow…
Nat, it definitely didn’t make us cool, but it didn’t make us uncool. Now band is another story– but I barely had enough talent to sing, let alone play something.
Jeremy, no complaints, that’s for sure!
Jamie, it might’ve been a weird childhood, comparatively. I think that’s what makes it so lucky!
What a cool family ritual. Not nerdy at all (well, not much anyway). Can you snag any footage to put on your blog?
We always miss you when you are away. What a wonderful family. We mostly camped. And fished. Sometimes we made Jiffy Pop over the campfire in one of those aluminum pans (the popcorn would burst through the foil on top when it was ready).
Okay. That’s lame. sorry
…Dude, that budding tradition sounds all sorts of awesome. All we’d do is go to Midnight Mass, attempt to stay awake, and then come home and eat ham sandwiches at the unholy hour of 2am. Late night communal snacking ftw! No cosplay, unfortunately.
I too think you sound like a cool family. And nerds rock!
It was a super terrific awesome sunshine show! Thanks for letting me tag along. Nice work Nicolas.
Alan, I’ll ask my brother– I’m sure one of the kids’ parents got some! Good idea!
Aaron, we camped and fished too. (Rather, everyone else fished, and I climbed up a tree to read…) We had Coleman lanterns and stoves out the wazoo. That’s not lame!
(Er, well, it might be. But then at least we’re in good company.)
Fredericks, dude, that sounds familiar. Christmas eve is just like that at the Taylor house– except for the ungodly ham sandwiches. (Hm, that’s a good story idea, actually…)
Danielle, we have a good time anyhow. Three cheers for nerds!
Bala, HAHA! Happy funtime super amazing zombie show! <3
Very cool, I think!
Medieval zombie madrigals and good food. I think I’d hate the holidays much less if I got to participate in such delights.
(Also, I love the Devil’s Dictionary definition of madness. HA!)
Cool isn’t the word we use around the house for it– but we’re not really as nice about those things.
Megh, it definitely takes off some of the annoying edge, that’s for damn sure. And yes, Bierce is the shit. For real. Hee!