Monday, October 8, 2007

A fool who said no

It was a warm evening in spring, on the beautiful island of Oahu, where I spent my teenage years. She came to me, a dark-haired beauty with mischievous eyes and that unforgettable Polynesian complexion.

She took my hand and asked me to dance.

I would not go. I did not know how to dance.

She tugged some more, beckoning me to join Her. I held my ground.

She dropped my hand sharply and disappeared into the dancing crowd. I never saw Her again.

I do not give in to peer pressure. That is one of my virtues -- and one of my flaws. The harder that you cajole, the more I will dig in. But She was not asking me to shoplift or to smoke pot. She was asking me to dance and I was a fool to say no.

That was more than 20 years ago but I remember it to this day. We were all kids, none of us dance experts. Nobody would have cared at all if I didn't know how to groove like John Travolta.

I would have had fun. I might have made a new friend.

But I stood there and watched Her walk away.

LGS tagged me to report on a dance in my life and I pass this tag on to Leslie, a master storyteller if ever there was one.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

The very best story of my life is about dancing...
Eastcoastdweller, You may have misssed that one dance, but your life has been many lovely dances since then, I can tell...

Eastcoastdweller said...

Adena: I can dance now, still not quite like John Travolta. Maybe that's a good thing. lol.

Leslie: How true -- it has.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Aaargh! Your post brings back some painful memories. Glad you have accepted a few dances since then. Look forward to Leslie's tale of step.

Chase March said...

All guys go through this scenario I think. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I still don't know how to dance.

PixieDust said...

You and my husband! He thought he was going to refuse me a dance - on our wedding day!! I forced him onto the dance floor and salsa'd all around him, heehee...

:-D

StayAtHomeKat said...

yes, I remember one dance I missed out on too

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

I am going to ask you for a dance in my day of celebration with Jim so get ready. One more thing, I am a latin so get those moves some practice ;-)

Anonymous said...

Eastcoastdweller, I have my dance post finished. I want to wait to post it next week. Does anyone else want to "Dance' post? I don't know that we have to be asked in particular, so why don't we throw it out there 'in general'.
Let's Dance!

Lance Abel said...

HAHAHAH i've done that so many times too! I still can't dance, although now I try!
I always felt like such an idiot at parties where people were dancing!

Anonymous said...

I have posted my Dance story. Go take a look.