Because every once in a while it’s necessary for me to reinforce publicly the fact that I am a very big nerd.
When I was six years old, I choreographed for myself and all by myself a rockstar routine to Lionel Richie’s All Night Long. My parents’ friends used to come over and I would, in Top Nerd Fashion, inflict the complete a-little-under-three-minute-routine on them repeatedly.
There was one part where I would slink clinging to the wall, smiling at My Audience. Another part where I would do jumping jacks. And still a third part where I would (drum roll, please) lay on the floor and move – or so I thought – to the beat. I used to also sing along at the top of my lungs, pretending to carry a microphone – which, inevitably, was a most challenging part of my routine while I was laying on the ground.
My Audience would clap and Hurrah! once I was done and my mother would scoot me up to bed. There I would lie smiling in maniacal manner imagining the many conversation topics my routine had graciously given the members of My Audience, such as my natural instinct to get down.
I wish somebody had videotaped this…quite likely my parents were too embarrassed and worried about my mental health were I to bear witness to such incredibly humiliating behaviour as an adult.
Are you blushing on my behalf? You should be.
Chantal said…
You are the sweetest dork ever! I remember once doing a routine to “Kung Fu Fighting” for my parents (just my parents, though, not their friends), I must’ve been about 11 or 12, old enough to be super-self-conscious, young enough to still do things for sheer fun. I’m (still) Shy Girl, but I remember the rush I got out of doing something so out-of-character. I think that feeling has pushed me to get out (& sometimes stay out) of my comfort zone as I get older.
I can picture you at six, performing like it was nobody’s business! It really is too bad that you don’t have this on video, but your memories are even better. My kids routinely put on shows for me, with costumes & music, a hand-written program… Reading your post makes me think of how great it is that they still want to do this, and of how “putting on a show for Mom” is shaping them into even more wonderful human beings.
Sun Sep 16, 12:20:00 AM
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Mo said…
Blushing? Hell I’m sitting here thinking what a show we could have put together, you dancing, my dramatic orations! Disney would have signed us to exclusive contracts had they witnessed the sheer star power.
Sun Sep 16, 01:36:00 AM
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just a girl said…
Chantal – you have to videotape them! What is this drive in children to perform? What does that say about us?
Mo! That’s hilarious: I can just picture your wild red/brown hair as you ‘dramatically orated’ to my “is she short circuiting?” dance moves.
Sun Sep 16, 10:10:00 AM
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Maria Calvo said…
This is fucking hilarious! I just snorted sputtered coffee all over myself. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Thu Sep 20, 01:44:00 PM
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Colleen said…
You are too precious!! The stories about your childhood are so endearing, Maha.
Colleen
Sat Sep 22, 09:46:00 PM