I am a dancer. I just love to dance. When we receive an invitation to a wedding, look out because I’m getting my dancing shoes on. If you were to ask me if I can dance, the answer without hesitation would be an enthusiastic yes. If you were to ask my wife or closest friends if I can dance, the answer with a slight hesitation would be no, but…………you may witness some snickering.
My strategy when on the dance floor is not necessarily to be the best dancer out there; just to not be the worst. In fact, often I will strategically position myself near the obvious worst dancer on the floor to ensure all focus to be drawn away from my unique moves.
My wife and I first got together in the 80s – so naturally dancing was a typical activity early in our relationship. In fact, with the vast number of clubs in the Los Angeles area, we continued to enjoy evenings filled with dance long after we married. I recall even hitting a dance club with another couple a few years after moving to Northern California.
It was a Tuesday summer evening and we were going to catch an early dinner before hitting the dance floor. We were still relatively new to the area but were able to locate a dance club about 20 minutes away. I must admit that I had some concerns. It has been a few years since we have gone dancing and these were somewhat new friends (plus, there was that one time that someone seriously thought I was having a seizure when I was actually attempting a move I saw on a television dance show).
I surveyed the club after about an hour to discover at my amazement that Andy and I were the best male dancers in the place. This gave me the added confidence I needed to attempt a few of my more unconventional dance moves – which I quickly stopped following receipt of the spousal look of disapproval. Nonetheless, it was a great time. An hour later, I resurveyed the club to see if there was any new competition. However since there was a bit more light in the club, the visibility improved and I realized for the first time that Andy and I were the only two males in the entire club.
Shortly thereafter I learned from the bartender that Tuesdays were apparently Lesbian night at the club. It was good information to know and actually made more sense as to why more people said hello to our wives more than to us. Nonetheless, we danced for several more hours and had a great time. I also learned that if I ever want to be the best male dancer at the club, we have to go on a Tuesday night.
Husband, father, coffee connoisseur and lover of all things hockey. At 51 I sometimes wonder have I done enough. I have been married to my best friend for 30 years. She knows all my faults and loves me anyway, As a father of “almost always” perfect boys, I am always surprised at what life has to offer. It is messy, scary, thrilling, and always fun.
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