Sunday, December 12, 2010

Memoirs of a Sore Face


Many of you may know that I've been known to get up to new shennagins by embarking on a new hobby or curiosity. Well last night, I did just that. I tried contra dancing. A hippity hoppin Scottish folk dance, complete with a band (that has a fiddle, squeeze box and a jolly piano) and then there is even someone who calls out the moves. It sort of brought me back to middle school when I was subjected to square dancing.

My friend and I were some of the youngest ones there by about 20 years. However, that is what I liked about it - a multi-generational atmosphere is optimal at all times. They are hard to find. I danced with an elderly man who smelled like an antique store.

Well let me tell you, partner dancing is a very healthy thing to do. It helps with rhythm, you get great exercise (heck, I jumped around for three hours and didn't even notice I was tired), and it's great for your brain (to be specific your substantia nigra). But, not only that, everyone is happy as can be with a big grins on their faces.

When the crowd goes to their homes, you go to yours with a sore face from smiling. And you relax whilst you get all those endorphins out of your system and think "I wonder when I can go back again!"