Sea of Humanity

Happy Dance

I usually never even see my roommate in the morning, but I was running late by at least an hour today. I ran through the apartment, grabbed my customary OJ and ran back into my bedroom to pick out clothes and shove some things in a bag. I always wind up carrying about 20 pounds more stuff than I need on days like this. I was standing in my t-shirt and underwear and paused for a moment to ponder my socks.

…and that was when I heard it. A song that has been hearing on heavy rotation since I moved into this apartment and what might have been the sound of moving furniture.

It was Mambo #5: Lou Bega's swansong of 1999.

I moved cautiously out into the hallway to see what the rest of the noise was and turned to look through a crack in the doorway. There he was: dancing in his shirt and underwear like his soul was on fire, really getting his energy up in a tight awkward shuffle. This was the noise: Lou Bega is his motivational music, his get-up-and-go, Get Happy music for the day ahead kind of music.

He did a quick pivot, stepped back and then hopped on one foot, maybe less busting a move than reducing the number of limbs to control, if only for a moment. But it was his own moment: he was dancing with himself and it was an I’m Getting Lucky Tonight kind of groove. He recovered himself, maybe feeling my eyes upon him and then turned around to face me.

Then I realized that this is how my roommate starts his day every day. I’m just not usually here to see it.

I walked into the shower. We haven't spoken since.

Posted by at April 28, 2004 2:32 PM