That’s it! I’ve found it: the motif, or theme, for my first blog piece of the year:
Let’s face the music and dance.
The countdown will soon begin for the New Year, and I so want to be ready when the music begins.
Ready to face the music … and dance!
But will I be?
The motif came to me as I was reading Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People.
I’m not far into the story, but just now, the two main characters, love-stuck teenagers Marianne and Connell, are at a dance in their town …
It’s a scene all too familiar to Irish people … the girls there early, taking each other in, and taking each other down with a look, waiting for their lads to show up … unspoken rivalries about to be played out … hoping the same lads won’t be plastered when they do arrive.
One girl, Marianne, waiting for one guy, Connell, in particular.
No one knows yet they are an item.
The lads arrive from their pre-drinking drinking session, and presently Marianne hits the dance floor, gin-fuelled abandon wrestling with the tumult of perceived abandonment as Connell has avoided all eye contact …
There may be trouble ahead, but she faces the music, and dances.
Now dancing would not have been my thing growing up; going to a teenage disco was more a ritual you had to go through to meet girls. Their world, their rules. Which only the clumsy or the callous would ignore.
What struck me then, as a spotty interloper in these perfumed palaces of potential love, was how easy girls seemed to be in this domain. And how confused and heart-thumpingly excited I was loitering around the edges, building myself up for an approach.
The same girls who looked so awkward in PE class or kicking a football, would now be rapt in sinuous synchronicity with the music, exotically painted, scented and adorned, and so practised in that code of gesture, tone, and flashing eyes we bashful blokes tried hopelessly to decipher.
Well, most of us.
And how correspondingly ungraceful the most normally graceful of my mates would be when the music slowed down, and they had no paramour holding them close or leading them on.
Well that’s how it was back in the day for the likes of me, the product of a typically boys-only Catholic education, separated from the convent school next door by a high wall and general cluelessness.
The wall, at least, did eventually came down and I get the impression Irish teen boys are a bit more comfortable on the dancefloor now.
The last day or so I have been sorting through the chaff and wheat of 2018, shuddering at the bad moves I have made, trying now to toss them aside as easily as John Travolta does his white jacket in Saturday Night Fever, to have my mind clear as I make my mark early on 2019.
What’s that … the countdown has started and the band is striking up …
… 10-9-8 … My hair okay? The tux and dickie bow too much, or should I be casual? Too late now. Will they laugh? …
… 7-6-5 … Will I throw a few of those flash shapes I have been rehearsing in my head, or fall back on the old reliables … they haven’t always worked so great before but there’s comfort in the familiar …
2019!
It even looks wrong until you get used to it, doesn’t it?
Another year has gone by, and it hasn’t been easy on the domestic front.
Shouty Dad still makes the occasional appearance, depending on the nature of the transgression, or if I am maybe tired and not as deft as I might be at turning a provocation into an opportunity to explore or reframe.
Our own teenage girl has been out this evening at a New Year’s Eve party and it was almost comical as A and I tried to ensure she could enjoy her revels without feeling over-chaperoned by the circle of parents texting her and her pals’ every movement and arranging the various pick-ups and drop-offs.
Like the US president’s security team we were.
Our boy is still waiting for his next football team to reveal itself.
Too much trialling and sitting on benches in wind and driving rain led to a chest infection, and then an ear infection, so there will be no football until he is 100 per cent ready and well.
… 4-3 … By this stage, I should be confident enough in who I am and what I do to hit that floor, those giddy lights and pumping beat an invitation to show me at my best,
Ready to dance like no-one is watching, and secretly hoping the ones that matter will be.
…2-1 … Yes, there’s a lot to worry about in this old crazy world of ours.
But while there’s music and moonlight and love and romance
Let’s face the music and dance.
Happy New Year!
- If you enjoyed what you have just read, try another one! Try them all! Seriously, follow my blog and you won’t miss out again. Thanks for reading.
EndaStories 
Happy New year! I saw this book- will definitely read it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy New Year, Enda! I hope the dance goes well for you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry, can’t hear you Clive, the music’s too loud!! Hehe! A Happy New Year to you too
LikeLike
Happy New Year Enda, and thanks for the earworm! It’s a great theme and one you should carry on with. Keep dancing along and have a super 2019. I hope O is feeling better now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Anne … great to hear from you. I’ll be dancing as best I can! O feeing a lot better, but not 100 per cent yet. Hope you have a really good year. Looking forward to reading all your posts in 2019!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Made me laugh this – how easy girls seemed to be in this domain – I used to dread them. Thankfully, although I was not too pleased at the time, I was rarely allowed out. Thanks for the flashback. Boldog új evet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only speaking from my point of view, Mary … or rather the view of teenage moi! Happy New Year!
LikeLike
I can assure you, going to a common-or-garden co-ed school in the UK, I felt as awkward around girls when a teen! I do like the comparisson with the US president’s security team. Alas, I fear this may be my future when the eldest hits those teen years! happy New Year Enda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi John. At least you will be minding someone worth minding, unlike our orange friend in the White House … Happy New Year to you too!
LikeLike
Really enjoyed this read. You thoughts echo mine fairly closely. Im dreading my little lady reaching the grand old teenager years. I’m mentally preparing myself, in an attempt to be a little over protective, but not over whelming. Lets hope 2019 brings joy, health and laughter to all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Ian … glad you enjoyed it. Joy, health and laughter? I’ll take those!!! Haoppy New Year
LikeLike
Happy New Year Dancing Dad! Your post reminded me so much of high school dances… oh those were the best times. #BlogCrush
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Carmela! I look back on those days with a mixture of fondness and terror!!- Hehe! Happy New Year to you and your family
LikeLike
Beautiful writing as ever. Oh to dance like nobody is watching although I did jiggle a bit the other night which never happens but then I ended up staying at a French man’s house too so it was all a bit random, I should add my OH was with me! You are great for many reason but one is that you remind me that blokes are not as confident as they so often appear either and that we all have our wobbles and need to be kinder to each other. All the very best to you and your family for 2019. #Ablogginggoodtime
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Kate. Jiggling counts too!!! Yes, here’s to a kinder 2019 … if we can’t change the world we can effect change in our immediate orbits. Have a great year Kate
LikeLike
Happy new year!
Oh the joys of organising the “security” arrangement for teenage girls!
#ThatFridayLinky
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy New Year! Shouty Dad also appears too often in our house and while I haven’t specifically called it out as a goal for 2019 it is definitely something I need to work on. As for dancing and girls – I still haven’t worked out either of thise yet!
LikeLike
I had never thought of it as it being our domain, but in many ways those young years did feel that way, awkward boys on the dance floor and us girls feeling right at home, I guess when you grow up as a dancer (as many girls did and still do) it gave us the edge. We had a lovely New Years at a friends who has a balcony that has views of Melbourne so the fireworks where wonderful. My friends son (only 14) loves to DJ and has all the equipment so he put on a great dance floor for all of us, which pretty much only all of us mums used lol. I hope you have a lovely 2019, that things go well for your children and you feel less like shouty dad. Love your writing as much as always! Thanks for linking up #ABloggingGoodTime
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mackenzie … that sure sounds like a wonderful introduction to 2019 in Melbourne! Ours was a much more muted affair. But here we are, the new year has begun and it’s all systems go. Happy new Year!
LikeLike
The teenage years a nightmare I remember being the boy at the dance that day in corner scared to death of girls happy new year mate Thanks for linking up to #thatfridaylinky hope to see you next week
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like you go over those fears Nige!!! Hehe. Happy new Year!
LikeLike
I love it, Enda! I am so ready to take off my worry and concern over (damned near everything) and just DANCE! Wishing you and your fam a year of health, happiness, love, joy, and MUSIC to dance too! xox #ablogginggoodtime xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lisa … thank you and wishing you and your gang a sensational 2019 – at least!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have just finished reading Normal People by Sally Rooney. I really enjoyed it. It won the Costa prize apparently. Great book. Pen x #ablogginggoodtime
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to get back to it … my daughter took it over, and I read something else. But it looked really promising
LikeLike
Well it seems you sashayed pretty smoothly into 2019 Enda! Of course despite all the hype about the new some things will still be the same but at least we will know what to expect the next time. Our teen daughter had her first New Year’s Eve party this year followed by a sleepover back at ours! Never again but at least we could keep a watchful eye! Happy New Year to you all and wishing you a relatively peaceful non-shouty one! #TweensTeensBeyond
LikeLike
Happy new year! I hope the dance of 2019 goes well!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
LikeLike
Just want you to know that I have been a dancing queen for many days now! Thank you! My girls are loving it! #blogcrush xo
LikeLike
Haha what a fab post, Enda! There is definitely something very freeing about being able to just enjoy the moment, enjoy the music, enjoy the company, and get lost in it all. #blogcrush
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is … I am trying to do that without trying … if you know what I mean!! Thanks Lucy
LikeLike
Happy new year to you and your family . Here’s hoping for a peaceful and successful one – however that looks for you all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kerry, and the very same to you and yours
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great catchphrase – “Let’s face the music and dance.” More dancing in the world would make everyone happier! OK, maybe it would just make ME happier! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Get out those dancing shoes, Laurie!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes I remembering owning the dance floor back in the seventies whilst the boys were more comfortable on the rugby pitch. I haven’t danced in ages – perhaps I should give it a go! Fab post Enda and keenly observed as always, thanks so much for sharing with us at #TweensTeensBeyond
LikeLike
I bet you did own the dancefloor too,! Track down those dancing shoes … thanks Sharon!!
LikeLike
2019 is all about the shape Enda! Start as you mean to go on. This has made me reflect on dancing over the years. In our parents day, it seemed more simple. You danced, you married. A few comments about two left feet but nothing that couldn’t be overcome. Move forward to my era and all the pressure was on the slow dance at the end. Always down to the man to do the asking and I remember a lad once telling me that it was the loneliest walk across the dance floor if a girl said no. On the reverse, there would always be a wall of lone females that hadn’t made the cut. And now, everyone dances together and the slow one at the end seems to have been discontinued. What to do now? Is there any hope! I have the book you mention on my list. I almost closed my eyes when you mentioned it for fear of a spoiler. Thanks for sharing with #tweensteensbeyond and I hope 2019 bring lots of opportunities for throwing a shape or two for all of us
LikeLike
You danced, you married … gosh, that was quick, Nicky!! My sister tells a horror story of a pre-arranged gang of them going over to ask up a gang of their male acquaintances, only one of them turned down my sis, and she had to walk back alone to the far side of the hall. She has never forgiven the perp!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not me I hasten to add Enda!! On the contrary, I ended up with a non dancer!!! I think they were all a bit worried about being left on the shelf back in the day 😂. I had as they would say, a ‘Spinster aunt’ who couldn’t have been more than 30 when she was put out to pasture. Thankfully, our sell by dates are a little more relaxed now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They certainly are … what a pressure thst must have been!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person