The Christmas Season for a kid is a magical time of year. Santa Claus, flying reindeer, talking, dancing snowmen, sugar plum fairies (whatever that is), parades, sleigh rides, and the list goes on and on. There is no other description but magical. Candies, cakes and pies,Christmas parties.... Ah, yes. the Christmas parties. I remember the wonderful times, the memories, good and bad. Our church seemed to have one of the larger groups of young people around and our youth leaders had plenty for us to do. My age kids was the larger group and most of us had grown up together. We were all very close, boys and girls. We were at the age when we discovered that there were 'haves' and 'have nots', if you understand my analogy. I am not referring to material things. Now, I think you're getting it. Our youth were divided into three age groups. My age was the middle group.
Our leaders organized a Christmas party for us and for some this was our first boy/girl party. It was held in the basement of one of my best friends Kathy's home, and there were no tables, party favors, and kid games. There was, however, snacks, foods, and drinks, chairs lined up around the walls and a table. A table holding a phonograph, with stacks and stacks of 45 rpm records and numerous 331/3 albums of rock and roll music. I, for one, had never danced in my life, except for square dancing at school, but especially dancing to rock and roll music. Most adults I knew thought Elvis Pressley was the devil incarnate. They were shocked, appalled, and embarrassed at Elvis shaking his pelvis. Kathy had a couple of older sisters, teenagers, who welcomed the opportunity to corrupt, teach a bunch of 10 year old kids to dance. Let me tell you, these sisters were 'hot', to use a modern day term, and I was one of the first to hit the dance floor for my instruction. I actually got to put my hands on them and not get pushed away or smacked. The indoctrination began. I was now corrupted, never to be the same again.
I learned fast. As the night progressed, I learned how to really 'cut a rug', and the girls were impressed. The truth was, I was just having a great time, and I didn't embarrass easily. I noticed boys and girls began to pair up. Since Kathy and I were good friends, I asked her about the guys and gals pairing up and she told me that was a good thing, that I should find me a girl to pair up with. Well, I started looking around, and I spotted a cute little blonde sitting in a chair close to the phonograph. As the records would play she would sing along. Wow, she knew the words to almost all of the songs. I eased my way over to the phonograph where one of my buddies was taking care of playing the records. I did not know the little blonde girl and had never seen her before. Stanley said she had come as a guest of my cousin, Danny. Danny was talking with some guys next to the snack table. I couldn't take my eyes off of the little blonde girl. She looked at me and smiled. I thought I was going to melt in the floor. Finally with some encouragement from Stanley and Kathy, I walked over. I had a big lump in my throat, and couldn't speak. I stood there like a statue. Kathy walked up behind me and said, "Donna, this is Paul. I think he would like to dance with you." WHAT? I just learned to dance! I can't dance with her. Then, right on que, Stanley put on a slow song, "The End of the World." I will never forget. I still think to this day that Kathy had all that set up. We danced and we danced. I have no idea where Danny got off to. Stanley would play as many slow songs as he could find and we would dance. Suddenly, Donna came closer, laid her head on my chest, and I leaned my head over to the top of her head.(I was much taller than she was.) I was hoping the night would never end, but it did.
I was lucky. Dancing just came naturally until I had formal instruction from a former Arthur Murray instructor my senior year in high school. I am forever grateful for him telling us that we must dance slow hip to hip (and a little grind isn't bad either). But it was my mother, initiating "kissing" parties when my twin and I were in sixth grade, that got me connected to a cute blonde who was tough as nails. Oh yes, we had 45 RPM dances organized by girls, too. We were Presbyterian then, and dancing was prohibited. Somehow that didn't bother us at all. Elvis was everybody's favorite… Even my dad started playing rock 'n roll on the radio after we made him listen to it a lot.
I really enjoyed this one with its prompting of memories.
