Wednesday, April 04, 2012

not going to happen today

Watching this youtube clip of the Box Tops (even looking back that’s a dumb band name) stirred up many memories and thoughts in my mind.  While they slosh around up there, I am going to capture a few of them here. You can capture and share your ideas about it too in the comment section.




My first reaction after watching was, hey I didn’t dance so bad afterall. Look at that guy over there. This refreshed memories of an eighth grade dance and many other weekend dances in High School gyms. 

Another memory was watching American Bandstand. How lucky to be on TV dancing with cute girls. Of course, I thought those girls would be better off with me. 


I went to many weekend dances but I didn’t care much for the formal dances. You had to prearrange a date for the formal dances. The high school gym dances were inexpensive and a trial by fire for your pick-up lines. Often after being shot down, the dance would become a spectator sport for me. Oh how a don’t care attitude about rejection would have helped. Did the girls really care much about how you danced?

Another thought is the song itself. How many under-twenty kids have ever written a love letter? I wrote a few. It takes time to handwrite a letter. Teens today probably don’t even bother using email to express their love. Texting. 

 ….My baby just texted me a few letters... 

Yes a few letters - not even whole words. 

One last thing about dancing that I discovered. I discovered this at a wedding. Want to liven up the dance floor? Pass out funny hats and masks (I'm not wearing a mask here).


19 comments:

savannah said...

they were doing The Skate at least, that's what it was called in lalaland, sugar! wow, i remember the MITM wearing one of those skinny ties to high school everyday! thanks for the memories! xoxoxo

OneStonedCrow said...

... it's strange that your and my childhood experiences often seem pretty similar ... even though Africa and America are worlds apart - perhaps it was the influence of MAD magazine ...

... gosh, I hope I didn't look as dorkish as some of the dudes in the video (probably did) ...

ps Love the hat ... :)

CiCi Winningham said...

School activities of any kind were not something I joined much. Moved around too much. So many times. You look like you are having a great time dancing in the photo. Were other people wearing funny hats too or were you the only one?

lisleman said...

 I don't remember a dance being called the skate.  I think the stroll line dance is fun.  thanks

lisleman said...

 thanks - We both read MAD.  I would not have guess that MAD or much of our music was going to Namibia at the time, since I didn't know much of anything about southern Africa.  Even without the internet culture could spread far it appears.

lisleman said...

 Oh the whole dance floor at the wedding put them on.  All different kinds of inexpensive foam filled hats.  It's a fun idea.  I was not very active in the social life in high school.  I did a few activites.  The ski club was fun.  Yes I would suggest to parents not to move during their teens high school years.  It's tough enough without moving.

CiCi Winningham said...

I was actually in different homes with different families. I was in foster homes.

lisleman said...

 that sounds even tougher than just moving.  You have a special perspective on growing up that many (myself too) don't understand well enough.

CiCi Winningham said...

Perhaps it was tough, but compared to the early part of my life with a father and mother who lived in violence and anger, moving around to different families was just a way of life for me. And I learned to meet new people and new situations which has helped me through life.

Thisstopwilloughby said...

I loved school dances!  I wouldn't say we danced so much as just jumped around, but it was always fun.

The hat idea sounds like fun, although I would think a lot of the women wouldn't want to end up with "hat hair".

lisleman said...

 If you watch this clip you might wonder if they are really dancing.
The crazy hat thing - introduce them later in the evening so the nice hair has been seen and most people have had a few drinks.  Also, there were masks so those didn't interfere with the hair too much.

Secret Agent Woman said...

When I was in high school, all our parties were dances.  And in college, it's what we did for fun.  I miss it.

lisleman said...

 Many parties were just hanging out listening to music.  thanks

oceangirl said...

..the video made me smile, non-stop from beginning to end.  And love your picture.

lisleman said...

 thanks for watching and the nice comment.  This was easier than dancing.

lillyslife said...

Oh and I thought I was going to see a video of you dancing. I hated dances and can't dance to save myself. Love the hat, great photo. You look like you are having fun.

lisleman said...

thanks it was fun.  

Mrs4444 said...

I couldn't help but think some of those girls look like they're dancing in nightgowns.

The good ones still hand-write letters; it's a very romantic thing to do these days. :)

lisleman said...

was there a style back then called moo-moos?  Did you share that letter writing advice with your son?
thanks

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