Once Upon a Swing Time

I love my husband. He made the most enjoyable playlist for me when I travel to and from my dance classes and I was loving my bus ride today. The songs brought back memories and took me outside the bus and to places and times that are now only in my mind.

Have you ever been a part of something extra fun and cool and never really thought much about it until long after it was over? When I was eighteen my sister Charla, my bother Wally and I learned how to Lindy Hop. It's such a dreamy memory--San Diego venues, Senior's Clubs with live bands (they loved us for keeping their era going), and any place we could get to that had a live big band music style. My brother was so awesome and took us with him to lessons in Encinitas and we really had a good time. We were a hit at weddings and could really cut a rug on the dance floor and since Charla and I were already dancers it came easy. When I went away to school I met some other Lindy Hoppers and we started a company called Swing Time where we taught classes and performed for community and civic functions (and made some good money might I add). All the while, I was having loads of fun but not really thinking much about it because I've always been drawn to contemporary styles and artistry. . . but we were rockabilly cool. . . with slicked dark short hair for me . . . and fun vintage frocks!

One year we performed for First Night and that memory makes me smile and want to laugh a bit. I had this totally cute vintage dress that was black with short sleeves. Anyway, while we were performing our first dance my sleeves started to rip. . .and rip. . .to the point that when it was over I just ripped them off and had a tank dress for the next dance. (This is the point where Jason would tell me how hardcore I am). I've got some strong shoulders and they're broad and bigger than most women's. One time my dad asked me if I was wearing shoulder pads. . .I wasn't!

. . .So, I left for Italy and that part of my life pretty much came to an end. Once in a while I have a chance to strut my stuff swing dance style and I've taught Jason a few steps and I think he has great potential (and although he has joked that he'll dance for 15 seconds, one day we're going to jam to a big band together!). Luckily Charla's great at the guys part and so we still dust off the cob webs and dance. La nostalgia!!