By Leslie Adler, www.thevuvclub.com
The Montage…..
What a beautiful word. I believe it’s origin is fwench (that’s not a typo, it’s how us fancy people say “French.”) It is defined as “a single pictorial composition made by juxtaposing or superimposing many pictures or designs.” Sounds lovely doesn’t it?
Not so fast….the pictorial montage, long a staple of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration, is a HUGE project for many of us. Condensing one’s photographic history, while attempting to honor as many guests as possible by including them in the photos, is a challenging labor of love.
“75 pictures is ALL we have!” exclaims Sydney. “It was enough for your brother,” I reply. Yet, as we get to work, combing through hundreds of photos, it doesn’t seem like 75 is going to cut it. “Maybe we could go to 100 photos,” I mumble to myself as she leaves the room.
I cover the ping pong table downstairs with photos. It looks like a giant game of “concentration.” Remember that game? Where you matched the pairs?
I divide them into categories. I pair them with the “perfect montage songs.” Yes, that is another challenge in itself. I hum as I work.
I walk around the table turning over those photos I think I can eliminate and then I start rattling off questions in my head: Is Grandma A represented enough? Is Uncle B’s photo on the table? Are there more of me and Syd than Eric and Syd? I do this for hours, I have lots of questions.
Then I start agonizing over the people who do mean lots to us but of whom we somehow have no photos. Is there time to take some pictures? Will they understand? Or am I so intent on everything about this party making everyone that attends happy that I am over-thinking things….including the Montage?
I choose to go with that theory.
And just in case I do screw something up, I am comforted in knowing that I have really tried my best to superimpose and juxtapose in a way that best shows the highlights of Sydney’s first 13 years.
Another task to cross off my list! Only 4 weeks to go until the big celebration….will I survive?
About Leslie Adler
Leslie Adler is a mother, lawyer and creator of www.thevuvclub.com and shares her witty thoughts on the many roles women play in their everyday lives. Leslie also combines her legal skills and friendship experience as presiding judge of Momlogic’s “The Friendship Court.”
We hope you will follow along as this Mitzvah Mom updates us on all the highs and lows leading up to her daughter’s May 2010 Bat Mitzvah. Everything from conflicts with other children’s dates to the dress, catering and other Vendor drama. Leslie will bring humor to this exciting yet stressful time for many families.
Read Part 1 here.
Read Part 2 here.
Read Part 3 here.
Read Part 4 here.
Read Part 5 here.
Read Part 6 here.
Read Part 7 here.
Read Part 8 here.