This post is kind of apropos considering today is the Superbowl!!! Er… well… actually my “fever” is for Rugby right now. In fact I think I have ALL BLACKS fever. I don’t even think it was done on purpose, but holy moly, I had to jump on the awesomeness and coincidence of the weekend.
P.S. Trust me… you want to click on EVERY single video link I link to. 😉 Keep tissues handy. ‘Cause… AWESOMENESS POWER EMOTION OVERLOAD. Just sayin’.
Okay so… yesterday, I went to the Native American Festival here in my area, and I was introduced to something I’ve seen before sort of in passing, and LOVED, but somehow… forgot in time. That said, it was reintroduced to me, via a live performance and I was enraptured. I couldn’t quite place it, but I KNEW I heard this beat… this rhythm and strength, this intense manly grunty language-song, before.
I LOVED it, and so I took photos of this Polynesian dance photo and video, and I posted it on Instagram wanting to know more. And when a fellow reader (from New Zealand!!!) excited about the images I took (just the fact that her New Zealand traditions were being presented to us, here), letting me know this was the New Zealand Māori Haka warrior dance/ceremony, it absolutely lit a fire in me to learn more.
From celebrations, to funerals, to threats… this is the most INTENSE, most touching, most REAL ceremony I’ve ever seen. And it MOVES me.
Maryse: Er… umm… can somebody write a Māori romance? With the whole Haka warrior dance and all? ‘Cause… just… *swooooooon* Or… you know. Even just a New Zealand Rugby team romance. 😉 That’ll work.
Angie: Yes. I love when they do the Haka. It gives me chills.
JM Walker: I’m just going to drop this here. 😉
Maryse: OMG I LOVE THIS JM Walker. What an honor. What intensity. I would have cried too.
JM Walker: Right??????!!!!
Maryse: This just calls my soul right out of me.
JM Walker: It so does. And watching the bride’s reaction and then the hubby doing it, GAH! It’s like a brotherhood and sisterhood and oh the chills. *sigh The New Zealand football (soccer) team does a Haka dance before they start their games. So amazing.
Maryse: I’ve been watching them on Youtube. I wish we could see one tonight. 😉
Linda: Seen a haka. Very scary, if they meant it.
Erin: Rosalind James has an entire series
Maryse: *off to look up Rosalind James*
Shannon: YES!!!!
Author Ally Parker: I love watching the Haka.
Natasha Boyd: Oh Maryse . I know. I grew up with Rugby, And I was supposed to support South Africa ( Springboks) and England ( the Lions) but dammit if my heart didn’t support the All Blacks every single time! ( I keep the AIG 360 degree HAKA app on app on my phone when I need a fix – no kidding). Also: Someone shared this with me recently and it moved me to tears. The students of a New Zealand teacher at his funeral :
Maryse: Oh I am SO going to cry… *off to watch*
Marie: Check out Rosalind James series
Crystal: This. Chills and tears.
Since then, I’ve watched a few videos and can’t stop crying and rejoicing simultaneously, so I can imagine what these book are going to do to me. I checked out the Rosalind James series. 😉
And all I saw was that she was in New Zealand trying to take a break (she needed to be rescued) and HE is an ALL BLACKS Rugby player. THAT is what I’m looking for!!!!!!!!
About book #1:
Everyone needs to be rescued sometimes.
Everyone but Hannah Montgomery, that is. She just needs a vacation. Three weeks in New Zealand to sort out her life, figure out what she wants, seems just right. Oh, and to relax. She should definitely put that on the agenda. She certainly isn’t looking for a sexy fling with a professional rugby player, no matter how attractive he is. Hannah doesn’t do casual. But maybe just this once …
As much as he’s shared with Hannah, Drew Callahan has kept one very big secret: that he’s the captain of the All Blacks, New Zealand’s international rugby team, not to mention the best-known rugby player on earth. And learning the truth, now that she’s back home again, has made Hannah warier than ever. Drew knows that she’s right for him. But how can he convince her to let down her guard enough to explore what they could have together?
READING ORDER:
- Just For You (Escape to New Zealand)
- Just This Once (Escape to New Zealand Book 1)
- Just Good Friends (Escape to New Zealand Book 2)
- Just For Now (Escape to New Zealand Book 3)
- Just for Fun (Escape to New Zealand Book 4)
- Just My Luck (Escape to New Zealand Book 5)
- Just Not Mine (Escape to New Zealand Book 6)
- Just Once More (Escape to New Zealand Book 7)
- Just in Time (Escape to New Zealand Book 8)
- Just Stop Me (Escape to New Zealand Book 9)
- Just Say Yes (Escape to New Zealand Book 10)
- Just Say (Hell) No (Escape to New Zealand Book 11)
- Just Come Over (Escape to New Zealand Book 12)
- Just Say Christmas (Escape to New Zealand Book 13)
Apparently I bought the first book in 2013, lol.
Time to read… 😉 Could it be a part of our 2017 reading challenge?
Maybe….we stretch when needed.
Speaking of the challenge, Rocket Man…..
“I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone…”
Lol Bev I bought book 1 in 2013 too. Should definitely be part of a 2017 reading challenge! I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet!
Maryse this has quickly become my favourite post on your site! (The Kiwi in me is super proud!!) That was me on instagram – I’m still finding it amazing that our cultural has spread that far!
The All Blacks are totally a national treasure so any exposure they get makes us super proud! It helps that rugby is a fun game to watch! (The guys in short shorts has nothing to do with it *cough*)
Y’all need to come for a visit to NZ – a book convention/All Blacks match sounds just what we need haha.
Gann ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as Hell
And there’s no there to raise them if you did. ..
There is the month with a number in the title, I think once is close enough.
Ok, Jen. We are on are way. Sounds wonderful.
Oh hey, looks like I bought this back in 2013 as well! January, to be exact. Holy crap. Four years ago. *blink blink*
Wait…this is the number month? I thought it was PNR month!
Ohhhh, you said “there” is a number month, not “this” is the number month. Never mind.
I say we all go to New Zealand and watch an All Blacks game. 😉 Just sayin. 😉
I like to “just sayin'” a lot, these days. LOL!!
But come on. Let’s!!!! 😀
P.S. Jen C I’m so excited it was YOU!!!!!!
Y’all are welcome to stay with me haha. Just saying!! (Lol! I think I’m more than on board with that phrase!!)
Hahaha. I’m trying to be like you cool and funny kids and rewrite some of Rocket Man’s lyrics, but I can’t think of anything LOL. Oh well. But I’m definitely gonna check out those New Zealand books 😉