"Let's Dance. Put on your Red Shoes &
Dance The Blues"
David Bowie
The stars were super twinkly that night, a beautiful style distraction. The kind of twinkling that catches the corner of your eye leaving you unsure of what you may have just seen, but far too beautiful to be a satellite or a plane.
As I made my way through the crowd, I began to realize my long circular skirt & vintage cardigan might have been an overdressed choice for this country gathering. Picnic blankets, girls in denim cutoffs & guys in ball caps were more the norm. I didn't care. I felt alive, happy in the summer warmth & ready for good music. Just as the band struck a downbeat, an older gentleman appeared out of thin air and hit the dance floor. Hit seems a rather lackluster word for the amount of oomph & fervor he possessed. His was the type of enthusiasm one would usually associate with a 20 Something on a Cancun spring break weekend, but with much more grace & refinement. Dapper style in a brown bowler hat & suspenders, his gray beard & pale gray tweed pants seemed the type of match up that could only have been a magical mistake. Whisking up a girl from the front row, I watched in amazement as he swung her around the dance floor. Fluid movement with rapid fire accuracy. Commanding the attention of everyone near the gazebo lights, their SMILES were louder than the entire band on stage. I was mesmerized..
Just then, I felt a soft voice upon my shoulder,
"You can't wear a fabulous skirt like that & not twirl it on the dance floor", a beautiful woman with long silver hair & the brightest green eyes ever continued "You gotta get out there!" "Ah. Thank you No, but I do love watching those 2! Look at 'em go!" I replied. "I know, she went on, That's my husband, isn't he handsome? I usually wait to jump in later in the evening. We're both dancers from way back. Keeps us young!" We continued talking over the loud speakers & exchanged thoughts about the summer temperatures & the way we both loved vintage clothing & a myriad of girlish things, when suddenly it happened. Grabbing my hand from off my hip, "My wife says you wanna dance!" " Ohhh. uh.no. y'know. I'm just here for the band..uh, please I'd rather not..uh
BOOM.
There I was on the dance floor with The Advanced Dancing Machine & although I knew there was no spotlight in sight? I felt one shining straight down.
On me.
Highlighting all my awkwardness.
Just as I went into full panic mode.
Just as I had decided that right now would be a perfect time to fake an asthma attack or a fainting spell,
A
miracle happened.
I began to dance.
I began to dance a dance I had never danced before.
Following his lead, I twirled, quick stepped & literally flew through the air.
"You got this! " he kept saying as I shook my head in fear.
I felt like one of those
dancing girls on GREASE who just randomly fall into the hand jive by accident.
Y'know the ones who somehow
(through the magic of cinema) know all the predetermined stops & starts?
It wasn't long before my laughter engulfed my fears & I was (later as I learned) dancing the jitterbug.
Don't ask me how.
A few dances later & a limbo line or two, I made my way home.
Putting the skirt back onto the hanger, I brushed my fingers across it's shiny organza.
It seemed to shine more brightly,
like it knew it had stolen the twinkle away from the stars that night.
Sometimes when I catch even a glimpse of that skirt, I swear it beckons to me..
to go out
&
dance.
Hepburn Hugs & Ric Ocasek Dreams
xo
Birdee Bow
