Serendipity
I cannot describe those occasions at this moment as I’m in the middle of sorting things out. Today I’d like to tell you a little exciting experience from yesterday. As we had arrived a bit too early for an appointment, we decided to take a look at the famous Blackpool Tower. Then Rev. Mugo shook her magic wand and we found ourselves sitting at a table in the Tower Ballroom! Middle aged couples were enjoying dancing to music played by an electronic organ on the high stage which sometimes sank and came up again - for players to take turns I guess. Although I don’t know how to dance formally, I like dancing in my own way so I had to restrain my feet from moving.
There is a Hans Christian Anderson story of a girl who wore red shoes to the church. One day she went dancing leaving her sick mother behind. Then in the ballroom her feet never stopped dancing and she had to have her feet chopped off. This really scared me as a child and only the fear remained not the moral of the story. Dancing girl with red shoes on, and the bloody scene stuck in my mind. Afterwards I couldn’t remember the reason why she had to face such a fate.
Do you have this kind of experience? You only remember a part of the story because it was so shocking and don’t remember the cause. Too much impact doesn’t work for small children I guess?
posted by Edera
posted by Iain @ 7:18 AM
12 Comments:
I guess a lot of life is like that - only remembering part of the story then forgetting to keep dancing in our own way to our own tune guided by the heart mind. Lovely to picture you dancing along. I too can't remember dance steps but love free form dancing.
Wow Edera, running on water and dancing to the mighty Wurlitzer, How exciting! As a young child my mum took me on a few day trips to Blackpool. There was a special train that used to run at times during the summer, picking people up at all the local stations. The best bit was the train, especially the steam engine!
Bob
I can't do ballroom dancing either. My wife tells me that as a dancing partner I'm like a telegraph pole. Not light on my feet at all.
But then in Cyprus, I discovered Greek dancing! I can be quite expressive with that. Ever seen the film "Zorba the Greek"? That's Greek dancing. Its starts slow but gets more energetic. I have to know when to stop.
Hello Dave, thanks for your comment. Do you feel like that about life? I'm quite impressed by the way you put it.
Hello Bob,
Thanks for telling me the name of the electronic organ - I was wondering how English people call it. Wurlitzer...I'll remember that.
I didn't know you also like steam trains!
Hello Norman,
Greek dancing sounds like fun to me. It's nice to dance yourself but it's also nice to see people dancing gently with each other.
Last summer I quite enjoyed Irish folk dancing with the choir members.
"The Mighty Wurlitzer". Whether it is an electronic organ, in the "Yamaha" sense, I doubt. I think it was installed in the 1930's and I assume has pipes and a "blower". The illuminations incidentally are referred to by the locals as "the lights". To this exiled Northerner, Blackpool is struggling to find new purpose. So, good that you saw some vestige of its past.
Hello Walter,
Thanks for your informative comment!
Seaside resorts have similar destiny in Japan as well. At least in England, you have more strict building restrictions, so the townscape doesn't change so much - which is good. In Japan politicians look for reasons to build more roads while the local people suffer from unnecessary development.
Hello again Edera...
Reading this about your visit to Blackpool, I was reminded about the 'factory fortnight' holidays on Tyneside...going back to the early 50's and 60's. Last week in July and first in August.
Bookings were made on a touring bus, to get away for a bed 'n' breakfast holiday, at one of the seaside resorts. It was the only holiday you got from one year to the next.
I remember my parents and I, clambering aboard a bus bound for Blackpool, suitcases in the hold. Because of the across country trip, there was a stop made to stretch your legs and have a cup of tea, just for a break from the busy roads.
The break was in Kirkby Stephen, Iain and I used to laugh about this. It was an odd time for me when I think back, being an only child - I was uprooted from my friends for my parents to amuse me...before all getting our finery on to go to the Tower Ballroom. My parents were good ballroom dancers, and won several medals in their time. The thing I always remembered were my mothers gold sandals, just made for dancing, and my fathers black patent leather shoes..all polished to within a inch of their lives!! Woe betide anyone who got in his way and scuffed them - and I include my mother in this too!! These necessities were hard to come by, and had to last.
Blackpool is not what it used to be, according to Iain, each time he took his mother there on a shopping expedition....
best wishes
Susan
Dear Edera,
I identified with the little girl in that story as a child. I have always loved dancing.
I was surprised that after Mum died I spent a lot of time dancing; it helped the sadness. I hope you can dance some time soon, too.
Greek dancing is so lovely because its nearly always outdoors in the sunshine, and with family and friends at some celebration. Thank you for reminding me.
With love, Sue C
Hello Susan,
It's so interesting to read your own holiday experiences. How nice it would be to see your own parents dancing. Gold sandals ... your mum's dresses must have been really cool, too!
Thank you for writing.
Dear Sue,
Recently I've started to think that I'm too old to dance but now that you say it's good to help the sadness, maybe I should try...
I'll try to find out more about Greek dancing.
Thanks for commenting.
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