Party Like A Party Dancer
The same day that Michael turned one, Sam turned 13 and had a Bar Mitzvah. And Balloon Lady was there.
When I was thirteen, I oftentimes dreaded going to Bar and Bat Mitzvahs because 13-year-old girls can be so mean to other 13-year-old girls. I realized last night that 13-year-old girls are mean to everyone, even if you're more than twice Bat Mitzvah age.
A sampling of things said to Balloon Lady last night:
"What am I going to do with this [in regard to very cool balloon rainbow]?"
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #1
"Why would I want a balloon? I'm just going to throw it out when I get home."
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #2
"I don't get it. You just go around and make stuff for people?"
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #3
"Uh, thanks? [In response to my handing her a balloon butterfly. Insert look of utter disgust]"
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #4
The crowd was tough, but mostly because the kids were much more into the African-American party dancers that were hired to rev up the party (read: teach white people to dance.) The whole scene was problematic on many levels: African-Americans hired to entertain, Hispanic waiters doting on the elite, elderly and deaf coat check women...all to serve the overprivileged and underappreciated future leaders of corporate America. I took a break from twisting, went to the bathroom to wash my face (and the metaphorical scum of the Earth I was feeling all over me), looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "Am I really part of THIS world? The black party dancing, spoiled rich kid entertaining party world?"
After the kids cocktail hour, I bonded with Cypress, one of the party dancers, over well-whipped guacamole and expensive nachos chips. "Tough crowd, " I said, telling him about the boys who asked for balloon whips and chains and then laughed as they popped everything right in front of me. "They're so damn spoiled," he said, "they have no idea." We both looked out on the beautiful landscape view from the Rotunda Room for a moment and took deep breaths. And then Cypress put on his dancing shoes and I snapped on my balloon belt again and went to work.
When I was thirteen, I oftentimes dreaded going to Bar and Bat Mitzvahs because 13-year-old girls can be so mean to other 13-year-old girls. I realized last night that 13-year-old girls are mean to everyone, even if you're more than twice Bat Mitzvah age.
A sampling of things said to Balloon Lady last night:
"What am I going to do with this [in regard to very cool balloon rainbow]?"
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #1
"Why would I want a balloon? I'm just going to throw it out when I get home."
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #2
"I don't get it. You just go around and make stuff for people?"
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #3
"Uh, thanks? [In response to my handing her a balloon butterfly. Insert look of utter disgust]"
--Mean 13-year-old-girl #4
The crowd was tough, but mostly because the kids were much more into the African-American party dancers that were hired to rev up the party (read: teach white people to dance.) The whole scene was problematic on many levels: African-Americans hired to entertain, Hispanic waiters doting on the elite, elderly and deaf coat check women...all to serve the overprivileged and underappreciated future leaders of corporate America. I took a break from twisting, went to the bathroom to wash my face (and the metaphorical scum of the Earth I was feeling all over me), looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "Am I really part of THIS world? The black party dancing, spoiled rich kid entertaining party world?"
After the kids cocktail hour, I bonded with Cypress, one of the party dancers, over well-whipped guacamole and expensive nachos chips. "Tough crowd, " I said, telling him about the boys who asked for balloon whips and chains and then laughed as they popped everything right in front of me. "They're so damn spoiled," he said, "they have no idea." We both looked out on the beautiful landscape view from the Rotunda Room for a moment and took deep breaths. And then Cypress put on his dancing shoes and I snapped on my balloon belt again and went to work.
posted by Balloon Lady at 10:44 AM
2 Comments:
i just wanted to let you know how amazing i think your work is, and that i love your blog! i especially liked the one about your first gig. i'm considering becoming a professional balloon twister, and it was refreshing to hear about your first time to twist at a major event! anyways, thanks for being so dedicated in this blog. i love it!
-grace
I've worked parties like this. Makes you wonder about what's going to be left of our society in another few decades. I played a corporate Christmas event in a hotel once where there were tables heaped with food, and more entertainment than anyone could reasonably take in. This scene was in sharp contrast to the group of homeless men in wheel chairs sitting out in the rain in a neighboring lot. I've never forgotten it. We are drowning in utter selfishness.
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