With the coming new year, I announced to my sweetie Diane that I was sick of this horrible economy that I was caught up in and I was going to "lighten up" my life and sell off all of my old "stuff." "What do you mean 'all of your old stuff'?", she asked. I said, "You know---the hundreds of vinyl Lp's, the 30 or so old rock posters, my 4 guitars, all the excess stuff--even 'The Costume'. Everything!""NO! You can't sell your costume."she said. "That was the most romantic evening of my life! You don't mean it, do you?" and, of course, started to cry.
Well....................
She said, "We got into that power launch, with the torches in the back, after all of the crowds had stopped and watched us walk by, and as we backed away from the dock in front of the Palazzo Ducale, you turned to me and smiled and said --"Here we go! Into the Magic!!"
I had "stepped into the magic" of Carnevale in the wonderful city of Venice a few times before, and, after meeting Diane, I had told her "We have to go" ---and there we were. The Venetian version of Carnevale had, like many things in "La Serenissima", faded away into broken memories until being revived by a few determined ladies in the 1990's. My first trip to Venice had been in the Autumn and after seeing the costumes in the shop windows and hearing the tales of the wonderful evenings in palaces on the Grande Canal, I had vowed to return for that unique Festival. The first few times, I had rented the traditional 17th century costumes needed to attend the Balls thrown throughout the city for the week before Ash Wednesday. At first feeling a bit out of place, I had gotten into the spirit of the whole thing. Enjoying the anonymity of wandering around the city in full costume, I had reveled in the history and legends of past Carnevale----and, like everyone else, snuck peeks in the windows of the Florian Restaurant in Piazza San Marco, ogling the most phenomenally dressed participants. Out shopping around one afternoon, I had stopped into one of the most impressive costume stores just days before leaving. Just for fun, I had tried on a number of their "standard" numbers and then was presented with their best costume--right out of the window. I was informed that when La Fenice, the famed opera house had burned down some years before, the store owner had employed the now out of work opera seamstresses. Women trained in the traditions of creating the most amazing costumes for one of the most fabled opera houses in the world. Women who's mothers and grandmothers back through time created the costumes for the grand operas of Venice's own world renowned composers.
and, OF COURSE , it fit.......
During the night before leaving , I had decided that I would make the plunge and put a deposit on the costume that had enchanted me the next day, have whatever alterations made, and have one of the most amazing costumes waiting for me when I returned. Because-----I was totally hooked. I WAS returning. I went by the shop in the hours before I had to catch the launch to the airport and................they were closed! I went back to my room, wrote a note explaining my wishes, and slipped it under the shop door.
After returning home and via a number of international, odd hour phone conversations, the costume was mine.
So------I told Diane all about the need for something fantastic for her, too. I gave her hints and suggestions. Sent photos and referred her to books. Told her what to try for but left it up to her. A Princess? A woman of "The Court"? or, perhaps, a "Courtesan?" A woman using her wiles to possibly ascend to "Court" status. She told me she had put together her own version of what would "work" and I would just have to wait to see.......................
And, in the end, she did a phenomenal job! A combination of parts of skirts and a corset and gloves and, in the end, an amazing mask selected from my dear friend Emmanuela.
And there we were. Slipping into the magic of Carnevale. Off to a grand ball, in fact, THE grand ball---"Il Ballo del Doge"---held every year at one of the most magnificent palaces on the Grande Canal---Palazzo Pisani Moretta.
The launch slowly took us through the darkened side canals, wandering us through the night until pulling out into the main "boulevard" of the Grande Canal, and slowly heading up toward the Rialto and off to our left, the torch and spotlight lit facade of the Pallazo-------------------------
We stepped out onto the pier and walked into the Grand Salon on the lower floor--met there by servants and waiters offering us drinks and snacks while we watched the assortment of performers. A golden man/winged lion version of Venice's symbol come alive, posed on a golden raised pillar. A Doge (or Duke) in full regalia (who I recognized as my friend Maurice) stood frozen in place on a round platform, his silken red robes flowing out behind him. Lit by thousands of candles the 15th century Palazzo was decorated with chamber after chamber of famous wall paneled art painted by Venice's masters including Tiepolo, Guarana, Diziani and more.Up stairs in the "Piano Nobile" we were assigned a "salon" to sit during dinner and, thankfully joined my friend Dennis Pozzessere---husband of novelist Heather Graham. Dennis and I had met during previous Balls and shared the enthusiasm and understanding of all things Carnevale. Cirque de Sole type performers, a string ensemble playing baroque music , magicians and magic was everywhere. No electricity and all of that candle light mixed in with the Palace itself and everyone in period costumes made for an amazing night. Top that off with a secret balcony overlooking the torchlit Grande Canal with the woman you love and, well, magic happens. We ate and drank and watched and danced and laughed ---marvelled at the tall, pale, gaunt group of "vampires" Dennis spoke to for a time----were dazzled by ALL of the costumes and enjoyed great conversations with wonderful companions. And in the end, after hours of enjoyment, I announced, "We're walking home," and off we went from Sao Paulo ----over the Rialto bridge----down the foggy "calle" and darkened side streets---like wraiths appearing out of the mist and dark and disappearing before anyone could be quite sure what they saw. In full costume with cape flying out behind me and golden cane clacking on the cobblestones, I must have appeared like some dream of olden times to those revelers heading the opposite way, stumbling home in the 3am night. It was cold enough to invigorate us and I knew my way after the previous years visits and late night wanderings, so we had nothing to fear and all to enjoy. All and all, a night out of dreams with enough romance and magic to last a lifetime........
Yes. She was right. I can't sell my costume. There would never be another one like it and it contained all of that ---------wonder!! And so, just like the title of the pendant I gave her as her birthday present that year, "The Promise", I swore that if I had to sell everything to pull myself out of these difficult times, I would NOT sell the costume.
AND! One day, we will go back to Venizia---to spend another night lost in the magic.......
