It’s been an interesting weekend. I would love to say that I ushered in 2009 with lots of reflection and deep thought (that was the plan), but the truth is, I caught up on some much needed rest. For the most part I had a great time going home. I saw almost all of the family and a few other folks, ate all the foods that I can’t get in the North East, and crossed a few things off my to-do list. I was going to a shin dig and that is just what I needed: a little dancing, a little wining and dining.
When I first walked in, I could hear the band in the background. I saw some tuxedos, a few fur coats, caught a peek of a beautiful chandelier hanging in the ballroom. OK! But much to my surprise, when I walked in I was not prepared for what I saw.
I saw old people.
Not middle-aged people. I mean real senior citizens. Not Baby boomers–“Senior” senior ciitizens. Hip Hop for them is part of a nursery rhyme (hippity hoppity). I had landed at a Geriatric Ball-small wigs, walking canes, gloves and all-absolutely no chance of them playing my song. I was not feeling celebratory. In fact, I felt I had been hoodwinked, led astray, ran amuck…, I spent the first 40 minutes, looking for someone under 40–at least. They played a few big band hits (cause It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing) and some oldies from the 40’s and 50’s. I thought oldies started at Motown and ended with Planet Rock. This was definitely your grandmothers music. But as the night went on I softened a bit. I mean watching these old people take to the floor with smiles on their faces was somehow…encouraging. I mean, a lot of them still had it. Some of them didn’t. And it was obvious that a few of them never had “it” at all. But as they danced, you could see that their smiles transformed them, even if only for a few minutes, to happier times.
And so I began to ponder, finally, what will I be like? Will I still have it? What kind of little old lady will I be? Will I hold on to my youthful spirit, will I be ready to “get up and do my thing” on the dance floor and in life? What we do today and every day determines what kind of women we’ll be tomorrow. While I have decided not to attend the Seniors Soiree next year, I did have a good time. And they finally played one song from the millennium-Cupid Shuffle go-figure.
It’s 2009, ladies, let’s get the party started!