Swing, Swing, Swing!
SO FUN.
In Friday’s post, I told you I was going swing dancing on Saturday night. I had a fantastic time. Before the dance, my friends and I went shopping. I bought a red 1940s-esque shirt that was red with white polka dots. I already had a black skirt that went just below my knees, and at the last minute I found a pair of black flats (I would have had to wear heels, and they hurt.) We also stopped at an army-navy surplus store where I bought a pair of WWII Flying Tigers wings to wear as a sweetheart pin.
The dance was held in the Masonic Temple in downtown Detroit. The building was HUGE. And very ornate. The dance floor was big, too. At one end of the room, there was a big USO flag hanging from the ceiling with a 15 piece big band playing underneath it. All the men in the band were dressed in army uniforms. All around the dance floor were tables, and places to sit. There were people dancing, and many of them were in uniforms. I almost felt like crying with joy–it was a great atmosphere, and I love the 40s. Grandma and I talked about WWII a lot, so it was fun to actually be able to experience a similar atmosphere.
It wasn’t too long after I sat down that a gentleman asked me to dance. (One of my friends who knew my recent dating stories leaned over to another friend and said, “It’s gotta be the haircut.”)
I have to say that I’m not that good at swing dancing, but I got better as the night wore on. I got to dance with guys anywhere from 20 to 70 years old.
One of my friends introduced me to their dancing aquaintances, and took us on a little walk around the Masonic Temple. It was beautiful and ornate. We even walked up the stairs to one of the towers and took in the night view of Detroit, the bridge to Canada, and Windsor.
I had a fantastic time.
I must say, though, that I feel like Mrs. O’Leary’s barn–my calves are on fire.
Gracie responds:
Posted: November 13th, 2006 at 4:18 pm →
I would have loved to do that with you. I don’t believe in reincarnation, but if I ever DID live in a past life I must have been a cooooooooooooool chick in the ’40s.
You have GOT to read my favorite book: Anton Myrer’s “The Last Convertible.” You might check the library first, unless you trust my recommendation enough to buy it before you read it. It’s been my all-time favorite book since 1979–and you KNOW how many books I have and how much I read, so that’s saying something.
But it begins in the fall of 1940. ‘Nuff said. And I can tell you that I WISH I was Chris, but really I’m George!
deb responds:
Posted: November 13th, 2006 at 6:00 pm →
That sounds like a blast!!!!