(These two pictures recently taken at our grandson wedding in July of this year)
I was sittin’ there minding my own business. Cokes are two bucks and you tip the band once an hour; listen to the music and watch the folks. Pure culture at its best.
It’s a bit after ten p.m., about the time all the college kids come out. I was sitting next to some folks from Boston who were probably about my age. There was empty sitting space next to me when five or six young ladies walk in. They were about the age of our oldest grandchild. They asked if we minded if they took those seats. Sure, and they do. On the bandstand tonight is one of my Nashville favorites, ole Harry Fontana. He and his band are cookin’ and the kids are all dancing.
One little gal in the group sat down next to me and said, “Hey, you come in here often?” “Yes,
how about you?” I asked. “Yea, we come in all the time, we really like Harry.” About this time a guy walked up and asked her to dance. Now, he does look a bit seedy but with a bit of hesitation she accepts. They dance, and I must say the guy can dance. When they finished she came back to her seat and said to me, “Never met him before, he ain’t no ten, but he can dance.”
As she sips her drink she asked me, “How old are you and why do you come in here?” I laughed and told her, “I am more than old enough to be your grandfather.” “Well my grandfather is…” and she told me his age. “I still have your grandfather beat and I told her my age.” She replied, “Oh my, yea you are older than him.” Youth and truth are often brutally so.
Now ole seedy reappears to once again ask her to dance and back up she goes for another dance. This time with a bit more enthusiasm. Again, they both are good dancers and enjoyable to watch. Their dance is finished and she returned to her seat. Then she said a classic line to me, “I sure hope he asks me to dance again, but I sure hope he doesn’t ask if he can take me home.”
In life there are some things we want from people and there are some things we don’t. To her credit, the young lady had this guy figured out. It reminds me of the words in the old fifties rock-n’-roll song of the Drifters…
January 31, 2013
Keep on,
Larry Adamson