A while back, there was much conversation over a glass coffee table and a couple of cookie monsters about the possibility of creating the Ultimate Junior High Dance Mix. Because of certain events occurring in my life, along with a tendency towards procrastination, this has been put off for quite some time. But this is the first post, in what I hope to be, the greatest series ever written on the social impact of junior dances on my generation.
So maybe I am not being completely accurate in stating “my generation.” Perhaps instead, I should be more correct and saying “members of my generation raised in Small Town, USA,” or something along those lines, but its much easier to type my generation, so know what I mean throughout the rest (I hope this isn’t the only one) of my posts on junior high dances.
Believe it or not, if you are reading this and remember junior high dances, you aren’t the only one. Maybe you just remember something about them, like how they ALWAYS had a red siren light circulating, and perhaps a strobe light or two flashing almost on beat. Or that the elementary kids were always running EVERYWHERE. Or maybe you just remember that Mr. Cope always made sure that there were way too many lights on. Not that you were going to kiss a girl, or even hold her hand, or get within ten feet of her the entire night, but there was a chance.
And its not just a Klondike thing! From Robert Lee, to Snyder, and even down and across to the metropolis of Blanket, there was a time when going to a dance was the thing to do. (Ok, so maybe there was nothing else to do, but that just reinforces the fact that they were THE thing to do.) And I’m sure there were many places in between that shared in these great gatherings. Even now, thinking back, I can remember which songs were always played, who sat in the biggest circle of blue chairs, and which girls you wanted to dance with but never had the courage to ask. Funny how things like that stick in your mind.
– As a side note, maybe I should change this post to be “The Junior High Dance: Defining a Slade,” but I am pretty sure that I am not the only one that remembers, or hope not.
Feel free to comment with any of your stories, things you remember, or why you think that the lack of these dances today has lead to the corruption of children today.
Some future topics could include:
- The Junior High Dance Top 20 - Songs to Dance at Arm’s Length To
- The Art of Getting a Date
- The Unachieveable Older Crush
- What Not to Wear - Junior High Edition
- The Macarena - The Caucasianization of Tejano
- The Tootsie Roll - Proof that White People have no Rythm
A special “Thanks!” to Jay for hounding me enough to finally get around to this. I hope it lives up to your expectations.