Square dance slug fest...yes that is the name of my blog spot. First of all- the name, conveniently has not been taken by anyone else. Secondly, the name has a unique and relevant bearing on my life history. Well, sadly it is a darker moment in my childhood. Ahem...I'm still having nightmares.
If it hasn't peaked your curiousity then you'll pay little attention to the next few sentences. If it has read on...
"This blog is about unsolved mysteries. The re-enactments and special effects are actual eyewitness accounts. What you are about to see is not a news broadcast."
THE UNEXPLAINED
It was the spring of 1989. Several people were assembled at an innocent birthday party square dance. Little did those attending know that a violent event was about to occur. One square was assembled, about 8 young various children, 10, 11 and 12, most clammy handed and giggling. As the music peaked and the fiddler called out "doh-see-do" and each child obliged. One little girl, rather uncoordinated slightly hesitated as she managed to circle backwards around her partner...a boy named Terry who was one year her senior. Leah possessed the kind of pre-adolescent timid demeanor that took a little time to unlock. As the evening wore on the young girl became more comfortable with the square dance scene. She began to consider herself versed. Let's just say she shifted into high gear, a square dance frenzy, if you will.
To the tune of Turkey in the Straw Leah (oops, this was supposed to be annonymous)began to feel the effects of 1/2 a gallon of Hawaiian Punch. As she swung Terry around like a rag doll during the "everybody swing" all her peers slowed their movements. Perhaps they weren't able to keep up, but the larger belief is that they were just in awe of the frenetic energy Leah was displaying. Someone forgot to tell her... this wasn't a Footloose audition.
Finally, it all came to a crescendo during the grand right and left. As kid after kid passed Leah turning hand to hand somehow Leah got off balance. The events are fuzzy but the moment of impact was clear. Leah's hand, gripped in a fist, made contact with Terry's mouth...bammo!!! Somehow she had punched him right in the kisser... The square dancers stopped right where they were. They "square" circled and gaped silently. The music did not stop but somehow for all involved, it would seem that it did. All that could be heard was the "aaahhh" of poor Terry. He had backed away from the dancers holding his mouth in a horrifying slow-mo of bewilderment. Leah began to cry. Somehow things had just spun out of control.
One of the parents instinctively ran into the kiddie circle, checking Terry's mouth for bleeding. Young Leah ran from the community center crying into the night. Her best friend followed...yes, perhaps to console poor uncoordinated Leah, but really it was a great opportunity to laugh herself silly.
From then on Leah was dubbed "Slugger"...and it stuck through middle and high school and every once in a while at reunions or in her hometown grocery store she'll hear the name being called rows away. Therapy sessions aside, the incident has poignant meaning in her life.
Learn from Leah's mistake. Dance safely friends.
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