I awoke early so that I could spend some time creating a more presentable iteration of myself than usual. After all, it's not every day one gets to take one's classroom (of home schooled tweens) on location to a fashion show on Fifth Avenue.
Working for Wonderland has certainly been a testament to the value of the strength of weak ties. After pulling some strings, my charges and I got into today's demonstration of Bergdorf's new evening wear collection. I had almost forgotten how intense the women and men who work in fashion can be. They really don't smile much! Remarkably, the tiny humans seemed entirely nonplussed by their lavish surroundings (they noted the handsome, taciturn champagne + water bearer in the corner and were quite resourceful in routing out what food was available to them).
The youngest is a burgeoning little fashion designer in his own right. We started talking about the progress of the current garment he's working on (there is white leather and pink vinyl involved) and he immediately caught the attention of two fashionistas across the way, who were bursting at the seams to hear more about the youngest fashion designer they had ever met. It was a fantastic opportunity for him to practice the talking points for his line (keep in mind, he's 11), and I was impressed with his ability to carry himself in conversation with women nearly twice .... thrice?... his age.
It's not all rainbows and sparkly things with this lot; sometimes I think they're not aware that there is actually a difference between full voice and a stage whisper. At a few intervals during the show, I had to field loud (seriously, quite audible) comments that the models looked anorexic and needed cheeseburgers. One girl even pointed and remarked with disgust that a model needed a pedicure and that her toes were weirdly shaped. It would have been funny, had I not been a bit appalled by the sheer audacity (and lack of social awareness) displayed by my little flock.
Of course, we eventually settled down into a semblance of silence so that the show could begin, but the bizarre otherworldly study of human interaction provided by the environment was not lost on me. I don't envy the children their position in the heights of privilege and opportunity... for the most part they bear it well, but in the deepest recesses of their hearts and minds, I have begun to see that they are nearly paralyzed with fear that they'll let their parents down by somehow managing to NOT be extraordinary by the end of this year.
In the mean time, I'll be soldiering along, doing my best to instill values and teach lessons designed around the formulation of an open minded perspective and a strong moral compass. That's the dream!
Though my current job feels like performance of an entirely new variety, I haven't completely forsaken my love of performing in more traditional venues. Getting back into theater, tap, and voice classes in the past two weeks has felt like being alive again. I didn't realize how much I'd miss it!
More from Wonderland soon...
