“Let’s go dance!”
I was a plus one, coming as a favor to a friend. I didn’t have to impress anyone, and there was free food and a DJ. Her Co-worker’s wife had been talking with me life she was my new BFF and that was fine with me.
But the music was playing, and that was the real reason I wanted to be there. Let’s get this party started!
We made our way to the dance floor, ducking around the buffets and the elegantly dressed men and women.
At Last!
I found a spot near the front with enough room to move and got my groove on.
Except the people to the side were coming at me. What?
I moved over, and they moved over.
My new BFF said “It’s the electric slide.”
I don’t know the electric slide. I mean, I know it but…
“It’s easy I’ll show you.”
This is a club I am not a member of. It seems all of America–maybe other countries too, for all I know–can line up in a row and their left foot out and tap and turn and then bump into me.
I like the song. Leave me alone, I’ll just groove to the song.
But no! Everyone must teach me the RIGHT way to dance THIS song.
I don’t want to do it the way everyone does it.
I want to dance the way I want.
That’s what dancing means to me.
That cannot be permitted. This one has rules.
Unsurprisingly, this song is only played in situation of great conformity:
Weddings
Bar Mitzvahs
Corporate parties
So my klutzy ignorance burns extra fierce as I turn the opposite direction and move counter to the wall of shuffling bodies.
I’m the one who is out of step. Literally, and holistically.
The one who was picked last
The one who stopped conversations when I entered the girl’s bathroom in Jr high
The one who doesn’t understand what the plan was
They’ll come after me, you know. I could leave the dance floor, but someone will take my elbow and say “It’s easy! I’ll show you”
Then I’m back in, crashing my misdirected body into the path of the ones who did get the memo.
This is not who I am! I can do things! I can be coordinated and keep the rhythm with elegance!
Not here. Not now.
Until at last the song ENDS. The sweet release of Wild Thing comes on and I’m set free.
I got this. This space it mine. I can move here. Just get out of my way. You do your thing and I do mine.
I’ve caught this drift. No conversations are stopping because of ME.
I’ve come a long way, Baby.
Happy New Year