Friday, December 14, 2007

Sunday Scribbling - "Dance"

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I have loved dancing ever since I was a little girl. It started with watching that curly haired angel, Shirley Temple. I still watch her with my personal VCR collection...no snickering! ;) You could set the clock by where you could find me on a Saturday afternoon as a pre-teen. Sitting in front of the boob tube watching the cool moves found on American Bandstand followed by Soul train. My mom jumped on my love of dancing by rushing me down to the local dance studio before I grew out of the phase and into boys.


My teacher was beautiful and graceful even at 7 months pregnant. I fell in love with ballet but mom added tap and acrobatics. Tap made a cool noise but I was not feeling the Shirley Temple vibe and summarily dropped it. Acrobatics was the worst, I hated it, but mom made me see it through for awhile longer. The headaches began right away until my teacher realized I was holding my breath through every trick. Try as I might I kept doing it, so the teacher had to convince my mom that Jazz would be more my style. I hated that I flunked somersaults! I did the recitals and fairs around the county each year and enjoyed it all. The costumes and dances made my heart race, especially ballet, but boys won out in the end. I was really good, but when it was decided I should have private lessons, I knew it would rob me of other things and so I declined. Nope, mom was not too pleased.


I never stopped dancing so after all the lessons I discovered cheerleading. I got the best of both worlds, dance and boys. Ok, so maybe cheerleading is not really dancing but who cares I was having a blast! I went to a private Catholic High School and you know what they say about those private school girls. "They can dance!" " What were you thinking?" Disco was in full bloom back in the late 70's and after I graduated every weekend was about dancing. Picturing my ex in angel flights, silk open shirts and platforms makes me hurl now, then not so much. My hair was three times the size of my face so I can't remember what I wore but I'm thinking leather mini skirt.


My children could dance before they could walk and we danced a lot. They did the lesson thing for awhile but freestyle was their thing. My youngest danced in her room, door closed, incessantly. It pulled her through her awkward times at school but no one knew how good she really was. My grandson TK has watched his mama dance behind closed doors for two years now. He turns two on December 29th and the Christmas before his birth, Dave, Jess and I danced with careless abandon to hurry TK into the world. It was one of those spontaneous moments you never forget.


You probably think I've hung up my dancing shoes for a walker, you would be so wrong. I dance romantically with Dave by the firelight. Trust me you would not want to see my Dave dance by the light of day to his country tunes. It reminds me of that movie "Deliverance." LOL I dance with my TK and he thinks I rock! He has that gramy dance gene and some unique moves. Grampy is trying to get him to do the one foot stomp and we all say in unison "TK noooo." I may have to be careful getting my groove on but seeing the love and laughter in my family's eyes when I dance still makes my heart race.




29 comments:

daisies said...

:) i too love to dance and it fills my heart with joy to hear that you still dance!! so fabulous :) xox

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

You go, Mama! You got your groove on, fer shur!

GreenishLady said...

Oh, Tammy, it made me feel like dancing to read this. I dropped out of Irish dance classes because I started too late (felt like a giant, at 7, beside all the 4-year-olds, doing their 1-2-3's), but I've done my share of closed-door, curtains pulled dancing in recent years! Keep dancing! (and thanks for the birthday wishes... Tahoe sounds good next summer!)

paisley said...

i am always so encouraged when i come here,, you lighten my soul....

Becca said...

Your posts always make me feel like dancin'! And this one especially so :)

I'm glad you're still "bustin' a move" now and then. It's good for the soul, isn't it?

Crafty Green Poet said...

Lovely post, glad you still dance!

Nancy said...

This entry gave me chills...how weird is That? I was just sitting her smiling and invisioning everything you wrote...past and present, Tammy boogying down.
I also smile because I too, am a dancer. Lessons, recitals...from teen to adult. Ended up with Jazz as my "thang". The costumes, dress rehearsals, stage...what a rush! I can still cut a rug they say.

One day, just maybe, you and I will let it rip while the guys are either out fishing, or laughing their asses off watching us!
Love you girl...

Nance

Betty Carlson said...

Keep on dancing -- to that Christmas song, and any others you want to!

colleen said...

I wanted dance lessons so bad when I was a girl but we couldn't afford them. I later made up for lost time and haven't stopped yet.

Tumblewords: said...

Dancing is such a good thing...your post is so fine...love it!

emmapeelDallas said...

I am too self conscious to dance, but I think it is neat that you do.

:)

Judi

Patois42 said...

I envy you your inner music.

Cyn Bagley said...

Wow.. :-)

Chris said...

I dance romantically with Dave by the firelight.

That is so awesome, Tammy. That should rock everyone's world, at least if they believe in love.

Beau Brackish said...

Wonderful post. Always keep a song in your heart and a spring in your step. I wish I had music playing in my head, it would help drown out the voices ;-)

The Deliverance dance had me cracking up. For some, it was a love story.

Keep dancing!

Giggles said...

Tammy poignant walk down memory lane! Loved the visuals that also enveloped my life! Dance is such a bonding experience! Some of my best memories too! Thanks for sharing your dancing days! Lovely post!

Hugs Sherrie

turquoise cro said...

"I HOPE YOU Dance" is one of my Fav songs!!! Boot Step and Boogie!!! Is that how that goes??? LOL I'd LOVE to seeee Dave and TK doing that!!! tee hee

Christy Woolum said...

Welcome back! I loved this post and I especially loved the slow dancing with Dave. Keep dancing... and remember that big hair and disco will return!! lol

wendy said...

I went right from lycra danskins...
to short leather mini skirts..and pointy boots a la Pat Bennetar..

You know..all us private school girls are the same!

Shake your grove thing...yeah yeah!

Pam said...

Love the cartoon and the music!

I took dancing lessons most of my young life and have loved to dance all of my life. As do my children and grandchildren. I now have to resort to spinning and maneuvering my power chair, but give up the dance? Never!

Rick Matz said...

Among my earliest memories, is polka music on the radio every Sunday morning, and my parents dancing around the kitchen.

Thanks for the reminder.

Anonymous said...

I like to put my headphones on and dance when I am home alone.
It's so much fun!
Thanks for taking the time to visit,
Frances

Anonymous said...

Thanks Tammy. I was by earlier catching up and I can tell you are pretty happy right now. Great memories and wonderful present.

(((((hugs))))))

Tinker said...

'Hair bigger than my face' *snort* - oh, the 70's & 80's were something weren't they? We should have had stock in hairspray companies in those days! lol
Thank you for the dance, Tammy~ You dance divinely - whether it's with music or words~XOXO

rel said...

Tammy,
This is a magnificent story, worth retelling and retelling.

My girl friend in high school went to weekly dance classes, as did most of the girls in those days, and I used to go along for the visuals. ;)
rel

paris parfait said...

Such a lovely post, Tammy. I love hearing how dance is in your blood - and your family's. (And I'm a Shirley Temple fan too. :) xoxox

little wing writer said...

ready your story took me back too...american bandstand...soul train...big hair...oh my gosh...dancing gave us all so much...and b/c of that we still dance...you got some great mojo!

Anonymous said...

You made me grin and giggle. Dance on!
I am a closet dancer, but it is nice that I can turn full circle without finding myself upside down now!

Lucy said...

keep on dancing sweet Tammy! Romantic dancing is the best kind! If I don't get to visit again, Merry Christmas to you and your family and a very Healty, happy New year xox