Flamenco evening (42/365b)

A very intense day. We woke up quite late. Didn't have to cook, because Jacky was cooking and we were invited. We couldn't coordinate our leaving very well. We were all waiting for everyone else. There was more random showers. Hot warm sunshine and then cold breeze and rain. The kids played unsupervised while Jacky, her friend Karin, Brian and I kind of chatted, snoozed in the sun, and just lazed around. It was a kind of perfect Sunday afternoon before a holiday Monday.

Then because Mary was playing a Flamenco concert in Maribor, only an hour away, we packed everyone up and went to Slovenia for the evening. On the way, Brian gently broke the news that my Aunt Lisa had suffered a stroke at 56,  and had passed away. I was shocked by the news, and since I guessed Mary, who had been rehearsing since 1pm, had probably not checked her email, I felt responsible for relaying the sad news.

We arrived with 1 minute to spare, but they started late anyways.

Reading the funny spelling of Mary's new last name, Mlinarich

excitement is palpable

The flamenco concert however, was put together out of pure genius. A very pregnant flamenco dancer organized and thought through everything very carefully. Special effects of cloth and bells and lighting. I was extremely impressed with the slovenian acapella group vivere, who sang dressed in white toga-like robes with really interesting music. clearly enunciated (though i couldn't tell you what the words meant) and even a special cello open strings solo, bare feet stomping, and choreographed hand holding and circle turning while singing.

mary's band held their own quite well. Mary was especially atuned to matching her melody line to the solo flamenco dancer.

wow, what terrible lighting conditions....

The guitarist of Mary's band said we looked, acted and truly were the same.

Is there a difference?

The nephews on the wall.
Post concert bliss

then we had a few hours of contemplative conversation on the outside steps when it was over. Felix tried to do flamenco, wearing my big spinny sweater. We toasted our dearly departed with some white wine

stomp stomp clap, we made a fan from one of the programs