Bodacious Boomer

The night I met Doug was the first night I’d been out since my dad had died and I’d broken up with Richard who I’d been with for two years. Those two events happened within ten days of each other and I was in a serious funk. After I’d been home for a month, my friend Rosie decided that I had to go out. So, I put on some jeans and a nice shirt and out we went, to the same club where I’d met Richard a long time before.

In between dances I spied this great looking tall guy with dark, curly hair playing backgammon. Remember backgammom bars at the clubs in the early 80′s? Feeling bold I walked right over to him and asked him to dance. He said no. So, I went back to dancing with others. An hour later, I asked him again. He said no. I went and danced for another hour or so. Finally I approached him again. I said “This is your last chance”. He said OK. We danced and have been together ever since. I’d never done that before. I think after he said no, he’d become a quest.

The next time we danced was at a wedding, not ours, a few months later. The third time was almost 8 years later in Colorado when we were at Brett’s summer camp. That’s it- three times in 27 years. Dancing used to be a big part of my life. I danced almost every weekend. Once married I almost had to go to dancing detox. Lucky for Doug I was really busy with other things- still doing freelance illustration and the kids. Now, though I’m not as busy; the kids are grown and I’m out of commercial art. Unlucky for Doug we have to drive by a club to get to our house whenever we go out. I asked him again the other night if he wanted to go dancing. “My hip is hurting”. BS. I know better. Later that evening, he thought having “a little slap and tickle” might be fun. I declined telling him I wouldn’t want him to make his hip worse. His own BS bit him in the butt that night.

So, the question is why do guys hate to dance? Now, I know not ALL guys hate it. My friend Diana is lucky enough to be married to Greg, who loves to dance. I’ve found him to be an anonmaly. I haven’t done a scientific study, but I have asked a lot, I mean a lot of women over the years “Does your husband like to dance?” The overwhelming response has been “No!”  What’s the deal? Are they afraid that we’ll try to dress them up in sequins and fringe like on Dancing with the Stars? Are they afraid that if they dance they’ll be grouped in with male figure skaters? Are they secretly afraid that their deeply repressed gay side will suddenly pop out? Inquiring minds want to know. I’ve asked Doug about this since forever. He has yet to give me a definitive answer. Strange too that I’ll find Doug watching Dancing with the Stars when I’m in the other room. Enough already.

I Googled this question and found this blog by Push up yogi in case you’d like to read more about this. Today’s trivia answer-a petrified deposit of toothpaste in your bathroom sink.