We’re watching an old, old re-run of Star Trek, and Spock said “Energize.” For a brief moment in time, I was once again dancing at the 57th Street Dance Theater in Waco, TX as a grad student. It was the hippest place in town: an old movie theater that had been transformed into a dance club. Sofas in the lobby, and even in the men’s room. A giant movie screen with curtains that opened periodically to show videos.
And me on the dance floor, cuttin’ loose and feeling free for the first time in my life. I had only been in town a short time, didn’t know anyone else there and so was free to recreate myself as I chose.
It was the beginning of my being honest with myself and everyone else. It was the beginning of freedom.
On a dance floor in a dance club in Waco, TX. Who’d have figured on that? Not me, certainly.
I’ll always remember, though, that song with over-dubs of Spock saying “pure energy.” “Energize” is close enough.
A strange thing to be thinking about as we approach Christmas, especially since we have a friend who is seriously ill and probably won’t go home from the long-term care facility he’s in. His dementia seems to get worse every day.
Parkinson’s takes no prisoners.
Still a simple word will sometimes remind me of something so vivid it haunts me, and it’s usually something important.
I don’t really understand why until I sit and think a while about it.
Usually, but not this time.
I heard the word and knew: that was the moment I first felt free. Free to be me.
Bliss, in a word.
I didn’t grow into it for a while, but that moment of realization that I can be who I am and still be happy stays with me.
"Energize."
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