A memory inspired by The Daily Post: Daily Prompt-Let’s Dance. In answer to the question, “what are your earliest memories of dance?”
Middle School Gym 1988
Jodi Watley-Looking for a New Love
Boys and girls file in staring at their shoes and instinctually separate. Boys on this side, girls on that side.
Keith Sweat-I Want Her
Several empty dance songs play in succession as the two sides size each other up and work out their butterflies.
Pebbles-Girlfriend
Girls hit the dance floor on this one. Shaking it proud with sideways glances at the boys who are gawking in disbelief.
U2-With or Without You
First slow song drops like a bomb. Girls scurry back to the ladies side of the gym. The alpha of the popular boys singles out his long time girlfriend. They just celebrated their 3 week anniversary! They sway back and forth as a few others couple up and oh so awkwardly embrace each other. The closest physical encounter with the opposite gender ever.
Lisa Lisa Cult Jam-Head to Toe
Gives both sides a chance to exhale and compose themselves as they compare notes on the experience. “He smelled so good,” “His hands went where?!” “He slow dances too fast.” I wonder what the boys were saying.
Debarge-Rhythm of The Night
Restarts the cycle.
Terence Trent Darby-Wishing Well
This one confuses everybody, is it a slow dance or a fast dance? Better wait it out.
Nu Shooz-I Can’t Wait
Brings the girls back out on the dance floor, everybody sings along in unison, “My love, tell me what it’s all about, you got something that I can’t live without…”
Bangles-Eternal Flame
“Last song of the night guys and dolls,” says the DJ, “Grab that special someone!”
No WAY is he looking at me. He’s looking right at me! Oh my GOD here he comes, he’s walking over to me! He holds out his hand and looks my friend right in the eyes before pulling her out onto the dance floor as I rush to the girls bathroom to cry it out.
Square One Notes 
Oh my goodness, how many times did we call the radio station to get them to play “Eternal Flame” that year? It was always in the “Top 5 at Ten” countdown those nights.
Rocking the acid washed look…totally rad! 🙂
LikeLike
Acid washed baby! Even the oversized glasses are back in. Have you noticed all the cropped tops that are in the department stores? Cringe. Eternal Flame and what was that INXS song…Never Tear Us Apart. Loved those two songs!
LikeLike
He shoulda picked you, Sandra, obviously a whirlwind of happiness waiting to happen with that big smile and just-right earrings. Nicely posted memory, good cry and all.
LikeLike
Thanks Mark, you’re so kind!
LikeLike
Great…now which of those songs will I have stuck in my head this weekend
LikeLike
Hey just be thankful I glossed over Shake Your Love and Love Shack! 🙂
LikeLike
“Shake Your Love” – I always wondered if Mrs. Gibson was getting a joke over on the listeners with that one.
Trust me we can go toe to toe on the 80’s music. “Cruel Summer”, “Rock The Casbah”, “Don’t You Want Me”, lol
LikeLike
Oh you’re on Sussudio! Take On Me. Ah ha, see what I did there?
LikeLike
Who Could It Be Now? Don’t you know you want to Shock The Monkey and Rock Me Amadeus Down Under
LikeLike
Uncle! 🙂
LikeLike
Lol
Yah Mo B There!
LikeLike
Mama say mama sa mamakoosa LOL
LikeLike
I Know This Much Is True
LikeLike
Let’s hear it for the boy
LikeLike
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
LikeLike
Never surrender
LikeLike
I Wear My Sunglasses At Night because The Future’s So Bright I’ve Gotta Wear Shades because Everybody Wants To Rule The World with a Mexico Radio.
LikeLike
Mexico Radio = Mexican Radio
LikeLike
I wish I was in tiajuana eatin BBQ iguana as 99 red balloons go by. Turning japanese I think I’m turning japanese I really think so…
LikeLike
I’m impressed 🙂
We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue when The Tide Is High
LikeLike
Ditto! I knew it was on when you threw down Ya mo B there. Made me laugh out loud. Thanks!
LikeLike
Lol! up next was “I’ll Tumble For Ya” but no one wants to go there
LikeLike
LOL! I had my finger on the trigger of Mr. Roboto. This round goes to you with Ya Mo Be There.
LikeLike
Wow- the memories this brought back! I was always the wild one that wouldn’t wait to be asked and scared the boys. There were two reliable ones that went with it. I stayed friends with them for a long time. They should have thanked me– they were the only boys who could brag the girl dragged them to the floor 🙂
LikeLike
I love it! Where were you when I was in school? You would have made these awkward years so much more fun! xoxo
LikeLike
I am in the last year of my thirties— I didn’t know I could access those old memories as I am entering the dreaded 40’s 🙂 The older I get, the younger 70 sounds! I need some ideas of what to do as a countdown to my birthday. Any ideas amiga? This is definitely not a bucket list since I don’t plan on kicking it soon 🙂 Can’t wait to hear your ideas 🙂
LikeLike
Estimada Estelita, I was born in 75, you too? Are you thinking along the lines of a 40 before 40 type of countdown? LIke the 12 days of xmas? I love it!
LikeLike
I’m from 1974 and only have four months to go. I’m an HR Manager and it still seems strange when I see new hires that were born the same year as some of my kids 🙂
LikeLike
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/estela-caballero-phr/41/6a/697
LikeLike
I was in my awkward years a long time….it took a long time to grow into these teeth and ears. I am still waiting for that last growth spurt. Should be along any day now. I find it hard to believe that you have not been a beautiful swan all your years 🙂 If you weren’t, all those early blooming swans are surely wishing they hadn’t peaked so soon!
LikeLike
You are a sweet beauty! Nothing awkward about you as far as I can tell! You’re such a kind friend.
I had some crazy hair on top of my head, a horrendous overbite (which has mellowed into just an ordinary overbite), and giant 80s glasses. A vision only a mother could love. I think with age comes a confidence that only time and wrinkles can inspire. And a who-gives-a-damn attitude doesn’t hurt either.
LikeLike
Wonderfull article,dear!!
LikeLiked by 1 person