We are starting month 3 here at The Heart of The Matter! Because spring is around the corner (somewhere) we are choosing to lighten up a bit to embrace the longer, sunnier days. That means our attitudes, outlook and posts this month are undergoing a slight change. We are all about the humor, especially when we write about ourselves. Who knows what’s to come throughout the month, but right now it’s time to remember; time to dream; time to embrace what was/are the magical moments in life. Folks- it’s time to do some dancing… some Dirty Dancing!
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Now, I’ve had the time of my life… No, I never felt like this before… Yes I swear, it’s the truth and I owe it all to you
The year was 1987. I was married. I had one child and was 5 months pregnant with my second. I had experienced a lot of great things in my life yet I needed something more… thrilling. Let’s face it, it had been some time since I felt really free and I think that secretly every pregnant mom visualized themselves as Jennifer Grey (aka Baby) twirling in a soft pink, floaty chiffon dress jumping into Patrick Swayzes outstretched arms. Okay, maybe it was just me.
I’ve been waiting for so long… Now I’ve finally found someone to stand by me… We saw the writing on the wall as we felt this magical fantasy
Yes, it was a magical fantasy. Did it matter that I was married? I don’t think it did. My real-life guy didn’t like to dance, but OMG- Patrick (Johnny) did!
Now with passion in our eyes… There’s no way we could disguise it secretly… So we take each other’s hand ’cause we seem to understand the urgency
Well, this was my second baby, and while I was still able to hoist myself out of a chair and tie my own shoes there was a sense of urgency. Plus pregnant dresses back in 1987 looked like tents. Not attractive in any way, but standing there, next to Johnny I was 18 again with an entire world open to me.
Hey, baby… With my body and soul I want you more than you’ll ever know… So we’ll just let it go don’t be afraid to lose control
That was all she wrote…the sway of the hips, the flick of my chiffon skirt, the slight head toss and off I sailed to hurl myself towards my dance destiny…control be damned!
Even today, when I hear those iconic lyrics sung by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes I am transported back to the first time I saw the movie Dirty Dancing and that final dance scene. Yes, there’s a part of me that still holds onto that dream because why not? Who says this couldn’t have been me, although maybe not at 5 months pregnant, but moms are allowed to dream right? I mean we did have lives before marriage and motherhood.
Marriage was great, and I loved being a mom despite the diapers and exhaustion, yet I really needed to embrace the fact that this movie opened a door to the memory of one of the best moments of my pre-mom life.
After high school graduation a group of friends and I flew off to Hawaii for a week- as in no parental accompaniment in sight. I honestly can’t remember all the details of how we convinced various parents to happily say adios to their 18 yr olds, although this was 1978 and we were independent women. While there may be some sordid details I shouldn’t share here, one standout memory is of our nights dancing. At that time in Hawaii, and maybe this is still true, being 18 allowed you to go into (and drink if you chose) any place that served alcohol, ie: bars and discos! The discotheque experience was huge all along Waikiki beach and we took full advantage of it while we were there. Of course every place was playing the standard Bee Gees/Saturday Night Fever soundtracks, Gloria Gaynor with I Will Survive, Donna Summer, Chic, and anything with Boogie in the title.
One night I heard a new song and it became my disco anthem: Dance With Me by Peter Brown. I dare you to click that link and see if you can spot me in the crowd! When we got home it was being played everywhere on FM radio stations and also on American Bandstand, the TV show that had taught me how to dance at age six. That 18 year old, independent woman, had no idea just 9 years later that she would be married and a mom- twice.
Here’s the whole point of this post though- I’m 63 and it never fails that when I hear either Dance With Me or (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life– both of which are on my Spotify favorites list- I am immediately 18 again twirling under a sparkling disco ball in Hawaii or doing (pregnant) mom things with a 2 year old while imagining myself in pink chiffon and heels dancing with abandon.
How can anyone really take themselves seriously rather at 5 months pregnant or at 63 when everything inside you screams out:
Dance! Right now- like the whole world is watching!
So I dance, for myself and for anyone who happens to be walking past my window. What do you think? Will you join me from wherever you are? Perhaps think of spring around the corner, of rebirth and sunnier days. Help to welcome this new season with dance in whatever style works for you. To borrow from the lyrics of Peter Brown-
Let your minds and your bodies be free… dance with me!
**As (I think?) the oldest member of this merry band of writers/bloggers at HoTM some of the silliest, funniest and easily most self-deprecating things I can write about will fall under the umbrella of aging. I have mixed reactions to my own aging journey (remember the airplane overhead bin post?) so that topic seems fully appropriate. Today’s look at dreaming, magical moments and aging was inspired by two essays from Steven Petrow- “I Won’t Stop Believing In Magic” and “”I Won’t Stop Enjoying Myself”. These can be found within his book Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old, which by the way is a book I did not care for, but it seems to be providing inspiration nonetheless.
Now, be off with all of you to dance joyfully!
The Heart of the Matter 
I love this, Deb!! The lights, the music, the dancing – I can picture it all, even the dancing while pregnant. And amidst all the light-hearted fun, you nailed something elemental for me. I think dancing shakes something loose for me so there isn’t any way I can be worried, stressed, or even bored when I’m moving. Thanks for the great memories and post!
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Thanks Wynne! I think we often get caught up not only in life but in ourselves. It’s okay to let the crap go for a while. Maybe some of it will be gone when we return 😉
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I think you just named the magic. Usually some of the crap is gone when we return!
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As a soon-to-be 69 year old, your post resonates with me. I have such fond memories of those delightful dreams and they are still present in my mind. I always loved to dance and was so sad when I married and discovered post-’I do’ he did not like to dance. The writing was on the wall for the downfall of that marriage! My current husband and I danced at all the weddings and celebrations throughout the years so my dreams came to fruition. Now my knees are failing, but I still dance in my head right along with all those glorious dance scenes.
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Maggie, YES! Many, many clues I missed out on when it came to failed marriage- the non-dancing being just one. There are parts of my body that protest, often loudly when the moment strikes me to turn up the volume and dance but I haven’t stopped yet! Maybe with some new knees you’ll cut loose again, and I’m sure chair dancing could also be “a thing”. Adapt I say!
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Deb, Deb, Deb… there are so many nuggets to love in this post. My heart is full! Thanks for the big Saturday morning smiles…and I can’t wait to take a look at the video to play “I spy”, Deb-style! Hugs and love! 🥰🥰🥰
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Thanks Vicki! It was fun to write about these memories!
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😘❤️😘
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Love this post. Old time rock and roll is my song…
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Bob Seger!? Great song, and I am a huge fan not only of the music but also his bad boy/Harley riding image… I was easily attracted to bad boys 😉
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💗💗
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Fun post! This song transports me back to that same time period :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM
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Doug! No way, are you a Van Halen fan? If you say yes then I’m seeing a whole new side of you! So many memories with this song and many others from VH. Panama is right up near the top for me as well.
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Yes way. 🙂 U2, Journey, Van Halen,..(and several others, although I my musical tastes have expanded now, I still love classic rock.
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The list of things I like and admire about you is quickly growing! For now and for always- rock on Doug!
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I love your memories of Hawaii dancing to disco! I was in Cabo on spring break in 1980 dancing under the stars in the sand at a disco to Funky Town! Your post brought back that memory as though it was yesterday.
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Lipps Inc! That was a great disco song to dance to. Pull up the video, pop on some heels and relive those moments out by your pool! If you have snow left pretend it’s sand and 85 degrees!
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Ha! Sounds like a plan 😊
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“Brick House” and numerous songs by Earth, Wind and Fire were my jam in those days–I still get the urge to dance when I hear them. I’m a terrible dancer but who cares? Part of the joy of it is moving the body with the music no matter how it looks to others.
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Absolutely. Did you ever watch Seinfeld? Elaine’s infamous dance? I remember Brick House being popular but now I harbor some negative connotations with that song based on the lyrics, intent and a few very sexist people I associated with in the early 80’s.
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I met my husband taking dance lessons (jitterbug and swing mostly) and – more than 30 years later – we still dance when we get the chance and the right music. I can’t imagine being with someone who didn’t like to dance… it is such a joyful thing to do.
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I love that Janis! Also that you continue to dance. There is no age limit on moving your body and enjoying how much freedom that brings.
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These are wonderful memories – and I can’t even think of how I would’ve convinced my parents to let my 18 year old self travel. That sounded like such a memorable life experience, even without the sordid details shared!
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Haha! Well…there weren’t too many sordid details if I’m honest, my group knew how to have fun without going overboard! Thinking back I’m pretty sure we had an older brother, or cousin or some male figure from someone’s family (who was going there for business anyway) that we deemed as our chaperone. Maybe that helped the parents- even though the only time we saw him was on the plane 😉
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Cheers to grand memories of that time period – American Bandstand, big hair, polyester and bell bottom pants! I have learned there are many shortcuts to happiness and dancing is one of them!
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So very true. I am one of those that looks back on my teen years especially as a big part of being what shaped who I am today. Thanks for stopping to read and comment!
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Deb – I love strolling down memory lane with you!
Dirty Dancing WAS one of my favorite movies, when it came out and for quite a while afterward. I loved the idealism of it, as well as the soundtrack. Unfortunately, I am much more jaded now.
I was not much of a disco fan per se, especially of the dances others did then, which seemed kind of weird and spastic to me so maybe the type of dancing featured in Dirty Dancing also made it a favorite. I still love all that throwback to even earlier times!
When you mentioned the song Dance With Me, I didn’t recall this disco version, just the harmonious and romantic version by Orleans.
Similar in time and place to your Hawaii story, I had what I referred to as The Love Boat experience on a cruise with some of my girlfriends! Those really were the days.
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It can be a great deal of fun to reminisce over the past, and reflect on some of the things we did just because we could! Disco was definitely a genre all to itself but it defined my teen years. I had to google the Orleans version and knew it instantly once I heard it but it’s very different isn’t it! Glad you had your own girlfriend trip to remember. I was a rather shy teen but something kicked in senior year and I’m glad I could live without thinking so much- if that makes sense!
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