March-ing about: Signs of the times
Today, a scattering of signs that reflect the times, the mood, and the month.
Two that speak of the covid era, but more pointedly, the qualities of some who inhabit it:
Left: On the window of a pet supply store: "Please do not enter if you have symptoms of Covid-19. racism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia."
Right: Frank Zappa, always good for an acerbic observation: "Stupidity has a certain charm, ignorance does not."
An Italian bakery leavens "No mask, no cannoli" by saying thanks:
We await our spring with keen desire; a late snowfall prompts pique:
"Some comfort for those who've had a f-ing lousy week." An apple turnover does help!
My current favourite is a series of breast cancer public service posters:
Left: "Embroidery, not just for aunties. Breast cancer either."
Right: "Knitting..." same idea.
"Matante" is a Quebec usage. Literally, it's "ma tante"—my aunt— elided to "matante", and the plural, "les matantes". (The masculine is "mononcle".) Depending on tone, it can be used affectionately or carry a more pejorative sense like "old biddy".
It's also used as an adjective to describe something passé. Le Duc taught me that usage when we moved here and I wanted to indicate my wishes to a new stylist: "Je ne veux pas une coupe matante."
Every so often someone writes an editorial pointing out that "matante" is not respectful, that is is les matantes who fill Quebec's concert halls and still buy CDs, which is why these posters are a bit cheeky. Or should I say, bosomy?
This is Leonard Cohen's home town; not far from his old house, a bar's door and staircase reference "Suzanne", which I'll never forget watching him sing.
We'll go on more walks as the winter breaks up!
Comments
I see some of the same kind of shaming going on in the current controversy -- a continuation of the class markers that work well to encourage consumerism, of status. Let's leave those old clothes for people who really need them. . . and then I get the odd comment on my blog (rarely, but the trolls exist) that I looked as if I'm dressed myself from a church jumble sale. As if that's a shameful thing. . .
Whoops! I've rather gone on and on here, haven't I? Sorry, but yours was such a relevant post.
Frances: I posted awhile ago about how my mother adored thrifts but my dad forbade them. So we would sneak to them and then smuggle the goods into the house. He never seemed to catch on. His issue was not "leaving things for poor people", it was that local merchants were his patients and they paid him what he asked for his professional services, so he wanted do the same for them. Though he would occasionally buy something on sale.
I will bet that her necklace is not thrifted, but I've seen pearl ropes at consignment and vintage jewellery stores, because some women buy them but then find these are heavy. Notice too her earrings are perfect, big enough to 'stand up' to that necklace but not in competition with it.
I will be posting on this, as there's more to say and look at.
Londoners seem determined to ignore Covid, particularly now that Spring is here, even though record numbers of people here have got it. I'm not sure whether this makes me joyful, or nervous. Perhaps both...
My husband (who is significantly older than I am) and I have just recovered from it. With the blessing of being double-jabbed and boosted, and no significant underlying health problems, it was a bit like having a bad cold. On the plus side, I'm hoping the antibodies I've created will see me through until my next booster in the Autumn!
Jane in London
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e: (Who •has• visited, a pleasure): Stay tuned, more is coming on Ms Rossellini's pearls.