It’s déjà vu all over again
by chuckofish
You’ve heard about our family dance parties; the tradition goes back quite a way. In fact, dance parties, like bagpipe music, are particularly helpful for calming babies. I used to dance with the lovely lady on the left in the picture below. Now she’s dancing with her own niece and nephew.
Things were ever thus! Take this letter my mother wrote to me on the 1st of September, 1985, in which she told this amusing tale:
Mary, of course, is a little lamb and misses you VERY much whether she realizes it or not. One day this week she was quite fussy and, as it looked like rain, Katie didn’t bring the stroller [to our house]. I tried everything I could think of to amuse her except standing on my head, and finally put on 45s. Can’t say we have an outstanding collection! She’s not exactly the Stevie Wonder type; and she might like Bruce S. but the recording is rather slow for her. Rod S. is better, but guess what rally turned her on? Alvin and the Chipmunks!! We had to play it several times. All the time we were playing records, I was holding her and dancing, and believe me, I was really rocking away but I do not dance the way Aunt Sarah does and she doesn’t like it nearly as much.
Ah, those were the days. Mary and I particularly liked dancing to Bryan Ferry’s “Slave to Love” — she was mesmerized.
I highly recommend dancing with babies — it may not be as trendy as goat yoga, but it’s a lot nicer.
Next week is “birthday week” across the family, for on Monday Mary celebrates her birthday, on Tuesday son Chris turns the big 25 (!), the same day that son Tim’s girlfriend turns 21! It’s almost too much cake to contemplate. Unfortunately, none of the celebrants will be here on the relevant days, so my only opportunity to toast them is right here.
Be silly. Goof off!
Captain Facetious and his lovely lady
and if you can’t be with the one you love, Skype!
And why not surprise her by trimming that beard?
Have wonderful birthdays and know that we love you!
dual personalities 
That letter from Mother is too perfect–what a picture it conjures up! Funnily enough, we dusted off “Slave to Love” last weekend for the wee babes! They were pretty tired out by that time, having bopped along to Don Johnson and the Talking Heads already…the little guy even passed right out, which is practically unheard of for him.
And, yes, happy birthday to all!
It’s funny the way things repeat. When I hear how Mary and Susie miss the twins (and how I do, of course), I think of how much I missed Mary and Wheeler (Susie, too, but by that time I had my own James to worry about). That picture you posted of the drool mark from WRC on Mary’s arm reminded me of that picture of our father holding me with his arm all stained with drool!
The same 45’s we dance to every year! I just love family things like this. It’s so important 😊
Great letter! And happy birthday to all, this week!
One time I was babysitting an infant who was asleep when I arrived and remained that way for about an hour. At one point, however, I thought it best to tiptoe in and check on her. Again, she was sleeping soundly. At the exact moment when I turned to leave, I suffered an explosive sneeze. To no one’s great surprise, the baby awoke. After several failed attempts to get her back to sleep, I did eventually go for the dance strategy. Meat Loaf did the trick. “Bat Out of Hell,” I think, possibly “Hot Summer Night.” Go figure.
I’ll have to remember those suggestions. But, really, Meat Loaf???
That does not surprise me in the least! “Dancing through the night,
Dancing through the night,
Dancing through the night with you”