Girl Talk Thursday is Mommy Melee’s weekly event, and I really love participating, so here it comes: my thoughts on the topic of “What talent do you wish you had?”
This is easy: dancing. I wish I could dance. I wish I had that innate rhythm, control, and awareness of my body. I would love to shake my booty and have people encourage me not because my booty is hawt (which it is), but because I make them feel like I’m telling a story, or at least entertaining, with my movement.
I remember living in Navy Housing as a kid. There was a dance going on at the local rec center, and for admission, you had to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to charity. I think I brought a can of sauerkraut — which was SO EMBARASSING BTW — and I seem to remember a can of beets too, but that might just be my faulty memory.
Anyhow, point being, I felt really nervous walking into this dance. I was young, maybe 7 or 8. I didn’t go with friends, I went by myself, but I was so excited to be going to this Big Kid dance. I found a spot on the dancefloor where I wouldn’t bump into anybody and started getting my groove on.
Any by “getting my groove on” I mean I started doing the MC Hammer dance.
Yes, me. Little blonde-haired, blue-eyed, very white, very Polish me. In the middle of a big, empty space on the dancefloor at the Big Kid dance. I pumped my arms. I stomped my feet. I frowned in concentration and thought, YES! I’ve got it! How cool am I?!
Then… I looked up.
Right at a group of Big Girls giggling behind their hands and staring at me.
I’m still mortified at the thought.
I remember running away, past the concession stand where they sold pizza and soda. I must’ve called my mom. I just wanted to leave and never see those Big Girls again.
And you know what? I’ve never done the MC Hammer dance again.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hahahaha…Not funny, but I totally remembered hearing this story as soon as I got to “MC Hammer”.
Dancing is definitely number two for me. It ties in with my whole secret want to be a stage performer wish. I can’t even touch my toes though. No joke. I can’t touch my toes.
I’m celebrating your butt right now, lady. SHAKE IT.
Have you seen the Hammer flash mob video?
I have so many things I wish I was talented in. Top of the list–drawing. I am sooo bad. Piano–always wished I had learned. Poetry–I SUCK at it, but I can write a pretty good story, if I set my mind to it.
As for your dancing–I’ve seen you dance, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. The cans of saurkruat and beets–hey come on, you are polish/russian after all–what else do you think would be in the pantry??
I wish I was more musically inclined. I love music and I always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, but my family didn’t have much money when I was growing up so lessons were out.
I’m a chick also from Polish heritage so I brought saurkraut and beets to food drives too!
They were just jealous and trying to act too cool to dance themselves.
I was laughed at a lot by Big Girls when I was a kid. I fear for this social struggle for my kids. So part of me wants to pick up little girl Tatiana and hug her and make her feel better. The other part of me wants to laugh at the image of a carefree little girl shakin’ her booty and stomping her feet around.
Love ya chica! No big girls better laugh at you now because you’re freaking awesome!
Aw! That is so awkward and sad. I can’t believe that those Big Girls weren’t Big Girl enough to be sweet to elementary school you.
I have no sense of shame when it comes to dancing. I don’t care if I’m cool; I just can’t help shakin’ what my momma gave me.
You could go out dancing with me; I could bring your funk back.
I can dance, but I don’t like to do it around other people. Is that weird?
My husband gets all mad because I won’t dance in public. And by public I mean not even in the living room if there’s people there besides the two of us. 
At least you had the guts to get out there and shake it! Can I have some of your confidence please??
This is a great post for Girl Talk Thursday. TFS!
I’m pretty sure that I am the world’s worst dancer. And singer. And…cook. Okay, so I just suck.
Oh I just feel so bad for tiny Tatiana. I was giggled at a time or five, so I totally feel ya. I can’t/don’t dance (except for Lily) because I just can’t let myself go, I admire that tiny white girl doing the Hammer dance.
Dancing would be a good talent to have. I wish I could take better pictures (like professional ones).
Haha, thanks for all the support, ladies. If I had been one of those Big Girls I would probably have peed my pants laughing, so I can’t fault them for being so amused.
I dance now when I get trashed, or when I’m around Maia. Other than that, it’s hard to let myself go, but I try!