Where Am I Going, And Why Am I In This Handbasket?

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

The Blue Hair Brigade and their Pom Poms

Dude.

So yesterday I was sent to Handle the Gov's people at the "Governor’s Arizona Treasures" event.

First lemme 'splain a little about the program: finally we have a Gov who understands that tourism actually plays a vital role for our state’s economic development. Okay, great. So her office and ours put together the Arizona Treasures program to highlight some of our state’s parks/attractions/natural wonders and what have you – especially underappreciated or unheard of highlights to bring more attention to these places, to give the community a sense of pride, motivate Arizonans to get out and “discover” their own state. Yadda yadda yadda. The Gov will actually make tours of these places and present a plaque, do the photo op, get some press - local VIPs are present and it’s a big hullabaloo for most of these folks. How lovely.

Well, my disdain for the west side is apparently well-founded, for while they try to give press to every region of the state, no one could come up with much of anything – but they designated the Peoria Sports Complex and the Fall League yesterday. Okay, sure.

Then we moved to Sun City. Since there’s absolutely nothing to do in Old Folk Land (for my dad was once in a restaurant at the ungodly hour of 9pm and they were vacuuming around him as he ate) – they rather desperately designated the Sun City Poms as an Arizona Treasure.

Do you know what that is? Since I’ve never been to a fucking parade, or been to Sun City unless it was for a funeral, I had no idea.

OLD LADY CHEERLEADERS. Really.

As in: Senior Women in short short sequined spangled ruffled puffy twirly skirts. WITH POM POMS. Dancing around. Rather, lifting their legs as high off the ground as possible without breaking a hip. At first I took photos because I was being cruel.

Then I saw a 73 year-old woman do the splits. Oh yeah. You heard me. Then they did a fucking headstand. And a pyramid. Impressive and frightening all in one breath. There was still that tentative moment when they arose from their squats where I wondered if they’d freeze in pain or fall over, but no. Not quite the sprightly steps of high-school peppies, but I was amazed nonetheless.

I was also ashamed that I haven’t been able to do the splits since I was like, 11 or something. That headstands give me headaches. And that I’d be likely be the cause of a clumpa broken bones if a pyramid were to rely on me (because let’s face it, I’d be at the fucking bottom).


So the Sun City Poms performed a couple of numbers, that 2-Unlimited “Get Ready For This” song (imagine a cloudy-sounding taped version of that early 90s techno song that you’ve heard at all the college competitions on TV – and the sound “booth” manned by an white-haired man wrinkling up his nose).

It was great shit.

Afterwards the Gov said a few words. Then Lois the Pom Leader thanked her and the audience (200 Blue Hairs present, man) and yapped for a while. Apparently they’ve been enjoying a rise in popularity – they perform at a couple of high-school pep rallies a month. They travel. They dance at the fucking Fiesta Bowl.



Sweet.

Posted by Marci Twitches :: 11:57 AM :: 0 Comments:

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