Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I am 46. But briefly, while running an errand yesterday, I was 21 again.

A song came on the radio. I swear, I danced to that song in a campus bar on my 21st Birthday...

Well I was scared and feared and for my life
I was shakin' life on a tree
'Cause he was lean and mean and big and bad
And pointing that gun at me!

Ah, wait a minute mister
I didn't even kiss her
Don't want no trouble with you
And I know you don't owe me
But I wish you would let me
Ask one favor from you...

Won't you gimme three steps,
gimme three steps mister,
gimme three steps towards the door.
Gimme three steps,
gimme three steps mister,
And you'll never see me no more.

The memory wasn't so vivid, a "take me back Calgon" moment, because it was in a bar and I was pretty buzzed. It was because I was dancing. For just a few minutes yesterday, I remembered what it was like to have so much energy that I could boogie for an hour solid, with a brief stop for a drink, then back to dancing.

There are lots of people my age now who have that kind of energy (my buddy Jo, for one). I think I understand, now, what they get out of it. They get to be 21 forever.