I participate in a group called Meetup.Com, which is essentially a networking website.  Are you a vegan quilter?  A newly divorced Chihuahua owner?  A left-handed supporter of Ron Paul? You can find others with similar interests at Meetup.Com. 

I joined a group called “The Spice of Life’s Too Short Meetup,” a name that sounds like a “before and after” puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.   They’re fun, though, and last night we went to a dance at a country club in Westfield, Massachusetts.  It was way out in the middle of nowhere, and I never would have found it without my GPS.  I didn’t know what to expect, but eschewed the Jimmy Choos for comfortable shoes.  GOOOOD decision.

The excellent Floyd Patterson band played, and everyone danced virtually every song.  There were a lot more women there than men, so we danced together like in junior high.  And the band insisted it was time for everyone to take their shoes off and dance in their socks.  We complied.

There was a group of people from a nearby ballroom dance studio, a few country club members having a Saturday night out, and about 20 people on a bus outing from a group home for the mentally handicapped, who were so much fun that when they had to go home, everyone stood up and waved goodbye to them.  We had to give them credit for starting the whole conga line thing.

Other than the presence of a full bar and an outdoor smoking area, it really was remarkably like a school dance.  

Man, that was fun!  If your life has arranged itself so that you don’t find yourself with opportunities to get out there and be a dancin’ fool every once in a while, it’s time to find yourself a good old fashioned sock hop.  Trust me on this.