Never forget the music that is the soundtrack of our lives, for if we let the music die, something inside us dies along with it...for Mary...
Bill hated this time of year. He kept thinking about how much he hated it as he got himself ready for the dance that evening. It would do him good to get out though. Bill couldn't remember the last time he had been to a dance. It was his friend Sam who had talked him into going out tonight. There was a New Year's Eve singles dance tonight at a local Sheraton Hotel and Sam thought it would do his friend some good. It had been a while since Bill had been to anything similar and he reluctantly agreed to Sam's request. For some reason he had been reluctant to get back into the dating scene since his wife died over two years ago. He did have to admit though, as he stood in front of the mirror in his dress shirt and slacks, that he still looked pretty good for a guy of fifty. He was still in good shape and the touch of gray around his temples perhaps lent a certain dignity to his ruggedly handsome face.
In a little while Bill's friend Sam arrived and the two men headed off to the dance. Bill reflected on his situation as he sat in the passenger seat of the car. He had lost his wife to illness a little over two years ago. Their social life had mostly revolved around her family. Bill had moved up to the N.Y. area a long time ago with his job. All his relatives were still down south. He gradually lost touch with his in-laws and felt funny calling them since his wife passed. He was thankful his friend Sam, a divorced guy he knew from work, gave him a call and invited him along. He did not have real high expectations, but at least he wouldn't be spending another New Year's Eve alone in front of the TV with a six-pack.
In short order the two men arrived at the dance and went inside. They paid the nominal admission fee and made their way to the banquet room. The room was decorated in a rather festive manor, with big balloons and colorful ribbons appropriate for the holidays. A hired DJ was playing old school dance music, or disco as we used to call it, over a large PA system. After a few moments Sam spoke.
"Let's head over to the bar." said Sam.
"Oh, I'm with you bother." replied Bill.
The bar was relatively crowded and it was standing room only. For the most part the women occupied the chairs while the men huddled around, drinks in hand, like vultures waiting on the death of their prey.
The two men ordered drinks and took their place amongst the well-dressed vultures. Bill had managed to position himself in close proximity to a fairly attractive blonde sitting at the bar. After some brief conversation, he quickly realized she seemed to be more in love with her drink than she would ever be with him.
After a couple of drinks, Bill excused himself from any semblance of conversation they may have had and decided to take a walk around the room. He gave a sort of nod and point to Sam who was busy chatting up a well-dressed gal perched in a bar stool. He figured Sam understood the message.
The music was loud but not quite so overpowering that you couldn't talk. That was a plus. There was a mirrored disco ball hanging from the ceiling and subtly changing light schemes, in bright colors as would suit the holidays, alternately reflected off it as it slowly revolved.
Bill walked slowly around the big room taking in the sites. 'I'm Your Boogie Man' by KC & The Sunshine Band blared out of the big rented PA speakers as dancers made their way onto the floor.
Bill continued his slow easy pace until something caught his eye. Make that someone. Along the wall in the back of the room was an attractive girl around his age talking to another gal. She had stylishly short blonde hair and strikingly blue eyes. She held up a glass of white wine which seemed to almost match her blonde locks. Their eyes met as Bill made his casual approach and his glance was returned with an approving smile. Bill excused himself for any interruption he may have caused to the conversation the two women were having.
"Would you like to dance?" Bill casually inquired.
The attractive blonde glanced momentarily at her friend as if hoping to get a second opinion. Her friend seemed to give a look of approval.
"Sure." She answered, "By the way, I'm Ann."
"I'm Bill." Was the reply.
The two made their way onto the dance floor as 'Dance, Dance, Dance' by Chic started to play.
"Dance, dance, dance." Ann said with a smile.
"Yowsa, yowsa, yowsa!" Bill repeated at the appropriate time along with the song, "I never understood what that meant though."
His partner laughed with a big grin.
"I remember all these songs from when I was in high-school." She said.
"Me too." Answered Bill, "If I had known it was disco tonight I would have worn my leisure suit."
The two stayed on the floor as 'Funky Town' by Lipps Inc. began to play.
"I used to like this." Ann said.
"Do you remember who did this?" Bill asked.
"Not offhand." Ann smiled.
"Read my lips." Bill joked. It was lost on Ann for the moment.
The two continued their moves as the song played on. As the song started with the refrain 'Gotta move on.' Ann muttered something.
"You know that's right."
"What?" Inquired Bill.
"Nothing."
