We had to learn that song in one of my French classes. I only remember little snibbits of it, so I obviously didn't learn it very well. But I find myself humming it whenever I think about France. A la vie du francais!! My life with rose colored glasses!
Ha. I don't think I've ever worn rose colored glasses.
I kinda want some now.
I bought my first pair of mission shoes. I went to the store looking for tennis shoes because they're on my list of things I need to bring and I haven't bought tennis shoes since I was like 11. Honest. And the ones I wear now? I've had since I was 14 or 15 and those I stole from my mom who bought them at Goodwill. You see my dilemma. So after a morning of filling orders at the Bishop's Storehouse (Mom said if we didn't get jobs, we could work at home if we volunteered. Bully,), Cathy (one of my friends who's an RM) Tori and I went to Marshalls hoping to find some tennis shoes for me and a bag for Tori. Instead we found lovely black comfy mission shooes. I got very excited and tried to carry them around the store.
People have started asking me when I'm going through the temple. I tell them I don't know yet. Because I really don't, not a specific day anyway. I know when my bishop and I are meeting to get a reccomend, but that's all. But here's the point of this: I'm not going to tell people when I go. I really don't want people to come to the session. I'm telling my mom and my dad, and probably my brother and his wife. At least, that's the plan. But I don't want anyone else to come. It's not a family party. I don't want to worry about all the people there for me. I know they love me and want to show their support and take part in this special and amazing experience. The thing is, I like sacred experiences to be private. Barely a year ago I started sharing personal experiences with other people, and even then it was usually in private. That's just how I am. I like to keep sacred things to myself. Is that terrible? I don't think so.
Anyway.
I decided to show you all the French national anthem, called La Marseillaise. And the english translation of the lyrics. I think it's kind of intense and a little scary. Cool, right?
Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts
To arms citizens Form your battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrows
What do they want this horde of slaves
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is us they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!
What! These foreign cohorts!
They would make laws in our courts!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would cut down our warrior sons
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brow would yield under the yoke
The vile despots would have themselves be
The masters of destiny
Tremble, tyrants and traitors
The shame of all good men
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward
Against you we are all soldiers
If they fall, our young heros
France will bear new ones
Ready to join the fight against you
Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors
Bear or hold back your blows
Spare these sad victims
That they regret taking up arms against us
But not these bloody despots
These accomplices of Bouillé
All these tigers who pitilessly
Ripped out their mothers' wombs
We too shall enlist
When our elders' time has come
To add to the list of deeds
Inscribed upon their tombs
We are much less jealous of surviving them
Than of sharing their coffins
We shall have the sublime pride
Of avenging or joining them
Drive on sacred patriotism
Support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty
Join the struggle with your defenders
Under our flags, let victory
Hurry to your manly tone
So that in death your enemies
See your triumph and our glory!
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