071214 The Lindy Runs in the Family

"It is better to understand little than to misunderstand a lot"
~ Anatole France, French author

"Dancing is an expression of love and sharing.
I met Bert (current boyfriend) at dancing.
Music saved my life.
After Fred (dear husband of 50 years) died,
the bedroom was a very hard place for me to go.
When I went in the bedroom, I put on music, not the romantic Frank
Sinatra kind, but something with oomf and danced my ass off."
~ Harriet Heller, mom's childhood friend

"Music makes one feel so romantic,
at least it always gets on one's nerves,
which is the same thing nowadays."
~ Oscar Wilde

Article: The Lindy Runs in the Family

My parents were pretty good dancers. They did not go out
during the week, but they danced at weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Once I learned some dancing, I tried asking my mother what
dance she was doing and what were the steps. Her answer was,
"The Lindy", but the steps were indecipherable to me at the time.

When I learned a little Swing dancing, I figured that must
be close to what they were doing, so I tried it out on my mom.

The first thing my dad did was point at my
shoe on the rock step and say,
"You're putting your heel down," and he demonstrated
a proper rock step, keeping his weight forward, like the athlete
he was. I am an athlete too, and I got it, but I didn't get it.

The last couple of years I have been organizing Swing classes.
One time, while preparing a section on balance, I got to thinking
about the rock step and how we need to keep our weight forward.

Into my head popped that memory of my dad pointing at my heel,
and I finally got it. It is true what people say, your loved ones
are always with you even after they are gone.

My mom and I went to my cousin's wedding in Jacksonville last month.
The band was great and played good dance music all night, but not many
people danced. My nephew, who is 12, got up and shook his stuff.
He is pretty funny. He has been doing that since he could walk.

A small crowd danced in their own way, but nobody who was dancing
knew how to dance with a partner. None of the young people who were
my cousin's age could dance with a partner. It was not like when
my parents had their day and everyone knew how to dance.

Only my mom and I knew how and were healthy and inclined enough
to dance. I finally figured out what she was doing,
"The Lindy" she was doing was mostly what we know as
the 8-count Swing.

Now to teach my nephew.

Happy Holidays.