Flashback Fridays: Breakdancer of the year

One of my favorite favorite mission friends, Gina, reminded me of another dance fiasco that I once had when wooing another fine gent. I thought I would share....

At the end of my Junior year in college I started hanging out with a cool group of guys in our ward. I thought they were all a lot of fun, but one guy in particular was my main attraction: Brandon Keller. We mostly all did outdoorsy things but one night we broke the mold and went to a dance put on by our apartment complex.

I don't remember all of the details besides that Brandon asked me if I wanted to go check it out and I thought, "Boy do I EVER!!" He had just recently gotten under my skin and so I was ready and willing to spend any sort of time with him. And besides, who am I to turn down a little dancing?

Right from the start we knew the dance was a dud. The music was lame and the crowd was small. Brandon and I stood on the side making fun of people until a familiar song came on and I challenged him to go jump into the circle and wow me with a little break dancing. He, of course, laughed at the thought but then challenged me to do the same. What he didn't realize was that I have no shame AND that I specialize in break dancing (as long as you count The Worm as break dancing)! Boy was he in for a surprise!

When the moment was right, I happily jumped into the circle and waited for the beat. Then, just like every other time, I dove through the air to show of my worm abilities. Unfortunately, I didn't take my heeled shoes into account and in my attempts to impress poor Brandon, I had thrown myself at too much of an angle and realized mid-air that I was going to land on my neck! Horrors! As soon as my hands made contact I twisted out of the plunge to save myself from breaking. In so doing, I dislocated my shoulder!!!! The crowd gasped and I was mortified! Hoping that my man didn't notice the failed dance move or the gangly arm I quickly popped it back into place and then did what any gal would do....I said, "That wasn't the worm. I'll show you the worm!" and then did the worm again to prove my abilities. Really, really cool and impressive (can you see now why I didn't get hitched right away?). Poetry in motion.

Brandon kept asking if I was okay but I played it cool and said that I was totally fine. After I snuck away for an Ibuprofen we watched a movie before ending our dream evening. It wasn't until the next day that I finally decided to have my gimpy shoulder checked out and was fitted with a not-so-flattering man-sized sling and foam wrap. As if I needed to look any more lame. When Brandon came by later he said, "I thought you dislocated your shoulder!" and got a good laugh. Yet again, my dancing killed any chance of romance.

Just so you know, James and I never went to a dance together and he has never seen me do the worm. This is good 'cause I am planning on keeping him around for a while.