Lucia in Hollywood?
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Canada’s Victoria Day had been the night of the full moon – and a full beautiful yellow glory it was, rising above the hills. Monday had also been for much badminton, Joe earning fifty bucks for washing and detailing Mr. Swiss’ car, Rose getting her much-sought-after papasan chair from Ivy, and it was a day for a temporary Star Wars craze.
Dad had also just taught Linnea how to ride a two-wheeler, of which she and her brothers were very much proud. She peddled the day away with Joe and Francis biking or running alongside.
Carrie had spent the day with Elizabeth, shopping at The Mills and Old St. Charles and attending a meeting at work. She came back with a green and rose Italian shirt, Elvis t-shirt, and a long bead and chain necklace. She was also in a very good mood as she helped Mom slice strawberries, mix salad, and fry steaks for dinner, and play several rounds of badminton, as the work meeting had gone quite well. She was looking quite tan, as it had worked out nicely after all.
“Aren’t I so tan, you guys?” Carrie asked during dinner, while they convinced Dad to come see a late-night showing of Star Wars with them.
Dad just kind of smiled and shook his head.
“Oh, you know you like it, Dad,” Carrie grinned, pulling the collar up taught on her green Brazil jacket. “You’re thinking, ‘Hmmm, maybe I should have one of those tans for my lounge band.’”
Dad just smiled and shook his head again. He and Carrie seemed to have that understanding – that Carrie would always do “wild and crazy things” and that Dad would pretty much just shake his head in wonder at the silliness of it all.
“Oh, Ewan McGregor is so fine,” Carrie went on. “He’s just, mmm-mmm.”
“Even with his beard?” Collette teased.
“Yeah, I was surprised, actually. But he’s still one fine looking man.”
And then they discussed the sword-play and footwork of the light-saber battles. After all, Star Wars was a piece of history and most people were caught up in the hype. Carrie was particularly impressed with the saber duels, from her previous work in fencing. So during the tutoring, badminton, and Nancy Drew of the day, there had been many Star Wars viewings and Pepsi. It nearly bordered on “nerd-dom”, but only for the day.
Meanwhile, in other news – Tuesday was Iwo and Strawberry’s first anniversary already. It had seemed a short while ago that Strawberry had alighted from the horse-drawn carriage in her white Renaissance gown, her bouquet of freshly picked flowers, bright ribbons in her hair, her maidens in colored silks and tambourines, ribbon-twirlers, minstrels, and acrobats… It was quite the wedding celebration.
And… Lucia had decided that she wanted to move to Hollywood, live in a hostel, and wait until she was discovered as a brilliant actress. After all, at every family gathering, she would announce quite resolutely:
“I want to be rich and famous!”
Grandma Combs was so upset, that she ate an entire pudoh bread (from Thailand).
“Lucia is a butterfly,” she would always say. “She flits from one thing to the next. She can’t go to Hollywood; she would get bored too quick.”
But Lucia had other plans. Collette laughed when she heard. That was Lucia alright, and she knew that eventually, she would find her niche. There was still time to think it over, even if she was graduating. An answer would come.