Noise Is Used For Torture

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

 

I haven't posted since Friday as I have been waiting for pictures to be posted on Facebook from a quinceñera we went to Saturday night.   Good friends of ours celebrated their daughter's fifteen birthday but not in a traditional fashion.  The old-style quinceñera is on its way out ringing in new options for young teens and their sweet sixteen parties.  The traditional colored wedding style gown, mass in a church, a party complete with very loud live music, dinner and dance are being replaced with a trip to Europe or the U.S. with friends, an antro (disco) style event held in a real night club, or the girl opts for a dinner and receives an expensive gift of her choice from her family.  You're thinking this is for the rich, well think again.   Traditional quinceñeras cost big bucks and families borrow, hawk items, take out a second mortgage, sell a car, and so on.   It is the next biggest event to a wedding and there are no holds barred.

Our friends opted for the antro night club venue (can't believe I'm using the word venue, I'm not big on buzz words or expressions like the new or old one everyone is using now "back in the day").   It was a nice place in a nice neighborhood.   The first floor has a dance floor, all done in dark black and cube furniture covered in fake wild animal skins, spinning lights, candles, glitter falling from up above.  Well, you get the idea.  I told Juan we are supposed to be known for going to clubs but this is the first one I have stepped into in more than 25 years.  

Upstairs was a balcony overlooking the downstairs with a curved railing.   The adults hung out upstairs, drank beer and ate hors d' oeuvres on pedestal tables with very nice floral centerpieces and flashing LED candles.   It was really a nice setup and the adults had a blast.  I did too . . . .

Until the noise started.  The music wasn't so bad.   It was the surprise that everyone was waiting for that was so bad.   Everyone hugged the rail, kids with party masks came running in and then a troupe of drummers called "batucada".  It comes from Brazil and these guys with dreadlocks and funny hats started banging giant drums.  It wasn't just the banging part but there was no other music, just hard, loud, obnoxious banging.  Four guys with funny hats and dreadlocks banging giant drums, eight drums total.  One guy had four drums wrapped around his waist.  The fifth was a kid who had a giant cowbell.    It drove me nuts.  Mixed with the lights, the noise and the constant drumming for more than half an hour I was ready to leap off the balcony.

Noise and lights are used for torture and now I can understand why.  Someone said, "it's a cultural thing".   Good, let it be cultural somewhere else.   As Aunt Linda would say, " I give this venue four drum sticks, one cowbell and an "oh no you don't".