Thursday, October 14, 2010

You should be dancin'....yea...

Gayle, Chippy, Suzie and I always waited as the minute hands on the office clocks ticked slowly by every Friday afternoon.

tick, tick, tick...

It was frustrating to watch that slow, slow progression until 5:00 o'clock but finally it would arrive.

tick, tick, tick.

On the final 'tick', we would close up our desks and run to our cars to get our stuff.

Four giggling 18 year olds in the company bathroom could get pretty loud but it didn't slow us down as we stripped off our conservative work clothes and shimmied into our hot pants and micro-mini dresses and slid our feet into our high, high platform shoes.


Eyeliner and mascara were applied with wild abandon. Some of us, the wild and trendy girls among us, applied pale blue nailpolish to match the color on our eyelids and added white lipstick with hands shaking in excitement.


And thirty or forty minutes later, just as our boss was knocking on the bathroom door telling us he wanted to leave NOW, we emerged.

Decked out and dazzling and ready to Disco!

Nothing says night life in rural Ohio like 6:30 pm on a Friday night at the disc club in the big city of Youngstown, Ohio.

As fast as our platform clad feet could carry us we scurried to the appointed drivers car and piled in...giggling and careful not to snag our fishnet hose.

We chattered and squealed with delight when Donna Summer or the Bee Gees came on the radio. And sang along...loudly, badly and knowing every word and inflection in the song perfectly.

As the driver struggled to find a parking place in the already crowded parking lot, the rest of us dragged out our compacts and plastered on more matte face powder and lipstick.

We were hot babes tottering on our platform shoes...teetering on the edge of being "for real" grown ups.

We entered the smoke filled disco in a cloud of Love's Baby Soft and Wing Song perfume and the mirrored balls dazzled us immediately as the heavy beat of the KC and the Sunshine Band started its magic.


That magnetic beat always stopped us in our tracks for at least thirty seconds, before it grabbed us and twirled us and made us move...

We bumped, we twirled and suddenly...we were dancin' yea.


This post is linked to Alphabe-Thursday's letter D. To read other D posts, just click here.

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47 comments:

Sue McPeak said...

Turn that BEAT On, yeah...you Go DiscoGal! This 'D' post has it all...I'm so groovin' to Donna Summer and you just took me back to one of my FAVORITE Dance Times...DISCO! It's really hard to describe the Flavor of Disco to anyone who has not experienced it in person...but WOW, Jenny...you have DONE IT! OMGosh..how did we Dance in those Shoes? Yep, I Definately Did Dance Disco...UhHuh!

Kat said...

This was so beautifully captured Jenny! The excitement and fun, that dizzying feeling of freedom for the night. Loved the white lipstick reference. But my favorite line? "clouds of Love's Baby Soft and Wind Song perfume". Yeah, baby! :) Kat

Willoughby said...

That sounds like so much fun! I used to love disco, but I could never pull off any of the dances.

I was a teen in the 80's and we used to go to a teen dance club. I remember wearing a purple jumpsuit and boots (they were the flat kind, easy for dancing). We wore Love's Baby Soft, too!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness...graduated HS in '79 and can so related to this post! Weren't we all "Dancing Queens"? Thanks for the memories!

La said...

I could never pull off the platforms shoes, but my cousin Melanie and I always cranked the radio on Friday evenings and gave ourselves facials and made up our faces to Born To Be Wild and Working for the Weekend before hitting Marion's nightlife.

Just this week, I heard Turn Me Loose (we loved Loverboy) and I had to call her phone knowing it would go to voicemail. GREAT MEMORIES!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Wow, it's hard to believe now, but I was the Queen of Hot Pants and Go Go Boots!

Thanks for memories, Jenny and thanks for your kind note. You are an amazing soul! (and a great writer)

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I remember my sisters' disco albums, and listening to the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever coming out of their room when I was taking a bath. I didn't know there were real disco clubs where people could actually go!
We all wore Love's Baby Soft, too. And Avon Sweet Honesty.

Jo said...

Oh i do remember rocking the disco ... and definitely teetering on my super high platform shoes ... and i wore Love's baby soft as well!!!

Flat Creek Farm said...

Oh my, the memories you've brought back, Girl!! Although, I can't relate to going to a REAL disco (small town girl I was), I was sure a wanna-be and *loved* the BeeGees. Wind Song & LBS were two of my favorite scents. I can still smell them now.. and "Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific!" shampoo. Thanks for the disco-trip down memory lane :D -Tammy

mle said...

Ahhhhhahahaha! Love's Baby Soft perfume!! Polyester jumpsuits! Do the Hustle - Boogie Nights - Saturday Night Fever, Baby : ) I like it, uh huh uh huh!!

Carol said...

I was in 6th grade when disco was huge. My brother use to go to the disco clubs and he would practice at home and I was his dance partner. We could really cut a rug! I knew all the latest dances...and I was cool...for all of 11-12 years old! I love disco music to this day!

Busy Bee Suz said...

I love this memory!!!
I was a bit young during the disco days, but my older brother taught me how to do it...and we danced all over our house!
White lipstick...who would have thought it?
I DO miss Love's baby soft too...so sweet.
Have a great day Disco Jenny.

Cheryl said...

Even back then, you couldn't pay me to wear heels, a dress, makeup, or fishnets. I wore my steel-toed work boots and jeans and tie-dye to the disco.

I rocked.

Tina said...

Thanks for sharing such a fun memory with us! I remember saving my allowance to buy the "Stayin' Alive" soundtrack when I was a senior in high school...

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

lipsticks,
dancing shoes,
music,
laughter,
these are fabulous to see and hear for today.
Thanks for the inspirations.

Anonymous said...

Bee Gees...Donna Summer...disco lights...i wanna put on, my my my my my boogie shoes...sweet memories...thanks Jenny :D

~victoria~

Susan Anderson said...

I was already married during the disco years (and he was not one to go dancing at a club), but those are some fun memories all the same.

That music was really contagious.

=)

Unknown said...

It sounds like a wonderful time was had by all. I remember those days too.

NatureGirl said...

Disco was my preteen years so we never went out dancing for real...but we always learned all the moves from one friend's older sister and Boogied our way through many slumber parties...Those were the days.

Dana @ Bungalow'56 said...

you had me wanting to be there with you, until the smoke filled room. So glad some things have changed. Sounds like you were quite the disco queen. Made me think about my own dancing days. Good memories.
Dana

Deb said...

oh my gosh...I'm so lovin this post...I graduated from high school in 1980...we were into the whole Urban Cowboy craze...boots...jeans...western shirts...two steppin...cotton eyed joe...but I loved KC and the sunshine band...woo hoo....

paige said...

Oh, I loved Love's Baby Soft! Do they still make that stuff? I need some of that. Now!

Great post, Jenny.

Pat Tillett said...

Wow! That was so good. I think you got everything in there.
Not my favortie era, but you sure captured it in your story....
great post Jenney!

Brenda said...

Oh man, I had a blue pants suit that had a cute little short jacket and the poly silky shirt. And I wore the blue nail polish and eye shadow and I had white lipstick but also I had a blue lipstick that was frosted. And.....big hair permed and long. Oh, sorry that was my every day look did not really get to the night clubs to much during the disco years. I was having babies.

Judie said...

"You make me feel like dancin'!" "Gonna dance the night away." "You make me feel like dancin'!" " Gonna dance the night away."

Movie: "The End," starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. The guy singing the above song was the janitor in the hospital where Burt was having tests that confirmed he was dying. Very funny movie!! Dom DeLouise was also in it as a mental patient. If you haven't seen this movie, get it from Netflix and laugh your fool head off!! You'll feel so much better!!

H said...

Oh no! I'm sorry, I can't help it! I'm cringing inside and squirming at the thought. I *hated* the whole 70's disco thing. I can't dance for toffee and noisy, crowded rooms make me want to run a mile! (Although I could cope with a rock concert - comfy in jeans and trainers - I know. I'm weird!)

Cheryl D. said...

Sounds like you had a blast!

Christi S said...

I can so see it!! Love disco music...my sisters are probably about your age!!

Laurie at Turner Farm said...

FABULOUS post! You captured that time in a wonderful~funny way. Love it!

Ei8ht Beach Street said...

Loved the white lipstick & platform shoes. Loved. It. Macho macho man..

myletterstoemily said...

"dance to the music!" you go, girl.

and sorry your ole' target doesn't
have all beef hotdogs. does it at
least have designer shoes and bags
for 95% off?

just kiddin'

Wanda..... said...

I was married with 3 kids in the 70's...and dancing to a different tune..."Scooby Doo Where Are You"... most likely!

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Ah, dancing the night away! Good memories!

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Yeah, I can see that disco ball spinning up there on the dance floor. Bodies turning, spinning, hustling, bobbing below. Yep. Some of those still get me standing up and dancing in place. :-)
Su-sieee! Mac
This and That. Here and There. Now, Sometimes Then.

Amy said...

Oh my goodness, I just realized my post today can play along! So linking up.
I love that you were a child of the 70's. And now I can see you glamming up, prepared to stop everyone in their tracks. Wasn't being 18 so fun?

Theresa said...

Love the platform shoes, don't know how I ever wore them:) Now, I remember when I could dance the night away but these days I can't stay up too late! Enjoy your day my friend! HUGS!

Anonymous said...

How wonderful! You might be dating yourself a little bit with this one. I certainly would kill myself in those shoes.

Teresa

Ames said...

Lovin this! The 70's were so cool. Some people just don't get it! Although I can't imagine even trying to walk in those babies now. Probably break a hip and get sent to the nursing home. While reading this post the one song that came to mind and I can still hear it is ..."You should be Dancing" by the Bees Gees.~~~Ames

Vanessa said...

Oh Miss Jenny, you have me wanting to break out our Disco albums...I mean...CD's! We have a great one of KC and the Sunshine band that we all dance around to as a family! Thanks for taking us on the boogie train!
Vanessa

Terra said...

most excellent D post post miss jenny. So descriptive. Have to admit I have never been much of a dancer but you almost made me wish I was there

Vicki/Jake said...

AWWW...could never get enough DISCO music back then :) Heck, I'm jivin here listening to the beat on your blog! THANKS for the memories Jenny..

Anonymous said...

This made me feel tearful - it brought back such memories. being born in 1959, I danced my way through the 70's - the age of Disco.
Wasn't it just wonderful?

You know Jenny, I am a computer dummy, but am going to have to work out how to join in these alphabe days you run, would love to participate.

Viki said...

I was never into dancing disco but I liked the music. We were more into alternative music lol.

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Haha!!! I remember the Disco Days! I even remember doing the Hustle dance. Sad to say that naturally, my rhythm and beat tends to go slightly off beat, with me having to get back in sync. But actually, my hubby was known as the Portuguese John Travolta! haha Back when he was in high school, watch out! The flared bell bottoms, silk shirts, angel flight suits, etc... (hm...I'll have to find a pic of him back then).

Haha love your memories and love everyone's comments!

Blessings & Aloha!
I had yesterday and today off from work, so I hope to get caught up on some blog reading. I also wanted to let you know that one of your comments was drawn for one of the 20% certificate giveaways towards the art that I do. Please come by or let me know if you are interested.

Anonymous said...

I only know about disco because my oldest son was in high school in the early 70's. My dancing years were much different than disco. I enjoyed reading about your dancing years. Hugs

Lourie said...

I am more 80's, but I can totally feel the groove because I was constantly riding on my sister's coattails! haha. Great D post. I will be back to play next week!

Muah!

Splendid Little Stars said...

Oh, the joy and fun and freedom of being 18! AND going out to dance! I feel the excitement all over again!