Memories of Mayberry: Slow Dancing With The Righteous Brothers
Seventh Grade Nostalgia
We all have certain things - a scent, a song, a story - that will trigger a trip down memory lane.
If you’re seventy or older, I dare you to listen to The Righteous Brother’s Unchained Melody or Bobby Vinton’s Mr. Lonely and tell me it doesn’t conjure up strong memories of heart-throbbing anticipation of holding that sixth or seventh grade crush in your arms on a Friday night at Teen Club or a friends party (strictly chaperoned of course).
Remember? Barely moving, your arms around her waist, her arms around your neck. Eyes closed, her head against your chest or on your shoulder and the scent of her Estee´-Lauder Youth Dew perfume embedded forever in your brain. Can you still smell it?
The standard for boys on such an occasion was English Leather cologne, khaki pants, Bass Weejun loafers, and Dickies (Fake Turtlenecks - remember those) under a buttoned collared shirt. This was the rage for guys back then.
We never stopped to consider that all of us looked exactly the same. That didn’t matter. We were convinced that special girl just couldn’t resist.
Sadly, that innocent influence of Mayberry was shattered by the chaotic culture of American Graffiti - epitomized by war, huge protests and rock music concerts, a proliferation of mind-altering drugs, and a tsunami of Eastern religious philosophy. Movies such as Alice’s Restaurant and Easy Rider became the symbols of Innocence lost.
All of a sudden, slow dancing became a jumble of wild gyrations to a throbbing drum beat that obliterated an innocent desire to kiss a pretty girl and fueled an awakening of sensual impulses that we did not quite understand. The patient wisdom of “wait until marriage” was tossed to the side by an insatiable quest for unbridled promiscuity. “If it feels good, do it” was the new mantra.
Oh, but we can remember, though.
We can listen to a song, or catch a whiff of a scent, or sometimes, just think about it and be transported back in time to an innocent age of puppy love, slow dancing to The Righteous Brothers, or dreaming of a kiss from our Seventh-grade crush.
Back in the Day.
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Wonderful!
Tender memories indeed, Cork. I can relate, from the female side, although I did not dance back then, not until high school. I remember one craze for 6th and 7th grade girls was wearing the poplular boy's colognes. I do remember English Leather. Do you remember "Brut", in the tall dark green bottle? Gosh, a million years ago! I am not nostalgic, as the time of promiscuity was a full-on disaster, one which I dived into, to awful results, and what I write about in my own Stack. Keep writing these tender stories, Cork, they are quite enjoyable. I certainly know the power of "Unchained Melody", and in my opinion, one of the greatest love songs ever written, none like it. Also, if I don't find your doggo story again, I enjoyed very much, "A Carolina dog", from the doggos' point of view!! Adventure, cheeky, pure dog! Wendy