Dancing is like dreaming with your feet and makes the stars shine brighter. It also improves your flexibility and promotes an overall sense of well-being. In Dallas world after a couple of Babychams, my sister, Beverley Big Pants & I think we’re dancing queens although there is a distinct lack of rhythm but what we lack in skill we make up for in enthusiasm and volume much to my nieces’ embarrassment. In fact the only time I ever look good dancing is if I’m next to my dad at a wedding!
Although my Dad is supposed to be a bit of a Fred Astaire when the mood takes him;
I understand that my parents’ courting involved a few Quicksteps and the odd Foxtrot although my mum insists that he used to tread all over her feet. It’s hard to imagine my wellie-wearing Dad enjoying anything that doesn’t need planting or pruning but apparently not
only does he know his promenades from his box step but there was a time when he cut a mean figure in the Victoria Hall Ballroom in Halifax.
So it was no surprise to me when he dragged me along to Senior Citizens’ Day at the local DIY superstore when they offer a small discount to anyone brandishing a bus pass. In keeping with the theme, music of a certain era is piped through the public address system and there are various demonstrations throughout the store. My Dad appropriately dressed in his cloth cap, pencil firmly fixed behind his ear and retractable tape measure in hand set off for the store in the old jalopy with me riding shotgun.
Once inside the store he made straight for the shelving; where else! I should mention that the real reason my Dad takes along his tape measure is so that other shoppers stop him to ask for his advice mistakenly thinking he is a professional. On this particular day as my Dad was singing along to Jim Reeves and Nat King Cole, he was stopped by two ladies who asked him for some guidance and they got chatting. Somehow during their laughter filled conversation my Dad ended up waltzing them around the aisle much to the amusement of other shoppers and when they’d finish they got a round of applause.
For our return performance, I’m having the slogan “Available for Stand Up & Pantomime” printed on the back of his shirt.
Your dad sounds just lovely 🙂
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He’s an old fashion gent and a bit of a charmer
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I love your Dad! And your descriptions are brilliant 🙂
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Thank you! He was a bit of a looker in his day
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What a great opening line – ‘dancing is like dreaming with your feet”. Loved it.
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Can’t take the credit for that one; my Grandma always used to say it to me
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…..and look how smartly dressed they were in those pictures!! probably most people in the store were jealous as seeing such an accomplished dancer, wishing they could have his skills and passion (both with his feet and at DIY…) love your dad, as usual!
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My Dad often says that he’s glad that he’s not doing his courting these days because after a hard week’s work, it was a big occasion in getting dressed up to go out
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I love dancing, there is nothing like it! Would have loved to waltz down the isle at the DIY shop! Unfortunately I really suck at it but like you I make up for it with enthusiasm 😉 By the way, excellent idea about the tape measure, I might just try that too one time!
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You’d be surprised at the amount of people who stop and ask my Dad for advice (that’s why I think he likes going there)! You never know some crazy old fella might ask you to dance!
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Love the old pictures. And dancers are so fit!
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It’s my Dad as a teenager in the pictures out on the town with two of his girlfriends
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Your dad is such a character. He always makes me smile. I can just picture him waltzing those women around the equivalent of Home Depot in the USA. 🙂
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He’d love that!
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What a charming man! You lucky girl.
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He still has some smooth moves
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Are those pictures your parents? They remind me of pictures taken of my grandparents when they were young. 🙂
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It is the artist formerly known as my Dad!
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What a lovely story for a Sunday morning! Now, that guy looks like the same guy, so I’m assuming he’s your da, but the two ladies can’t both be your mum! 🙂 – Kaye
http://www.youtube.com/user/kittrellkaye
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It is indeed my Da as a nineteen year old with one or two of his teenage girlfriends. Since he’s been housebound he’s been going through his old photos and reckons he doesn’t have any of him and my mother dancing, so he’ll be on corned beef sandwiches for the rest of the week!
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Your opening line was stellar Tink…you have a great story telling way about you…and I agree with the rest of your avid fans…you Dad sounds like MY kinda guy..and yes, I’d dance in the aisles right along with him…xoxo
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Why thank you lovely lady – are you a quickstep or a waltz kinda girl?
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Both…my feet decide!
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Your Dad rocks Dallas 😆
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I think so Madhu
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Your dad is just a peach! Can I adopt him?
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I can have him there by the weekend!
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I have a yard that could use a whole lot of TLC while I roam the beach, but you KNOW you’d miss him terribly.
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maybe for the first day or two ……………
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There are some people who light up a room when they enter – your Dad is one of those who give the world joy and laughter. (The apple does not fall far from the tree.)
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Dad & I do tend to laugh at the same things but I would say he’s what my Grandma would call “one of the Lord’s little sunbeams”!
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My aunt was named Sunbeam after a first nations lady who was beloved by many. Years later, my aunt met someone call “Sunbeam,” too. And yet, she was named after the same lady. So I think your Grandma has the right of things – there are people who are “one of the Lord’s little sunbeams.”
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What a lovely memory to be able to always carry of your Dad! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Fortunately, I have lots of good stuff that I can still laugh about
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Your dad sounds as smooth as they come, good for him.
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He likes to think he is, Phil!
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What a charmer! Lovely…
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I love it when you include personal photos. Thanks for letting us into your life.
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He was a bit of handsome devil in his younger years
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He thinks he is!
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How many yards of shelving did he buy then? Are you really sure you Mum doesn’t real your blog 😀
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I really hope she doesn’t – don’t think she’d be impressed with him holding onto pictures of all his old girlfriends. So far this week no shelves have been erected
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Sign me up for a dance lesson with your dad! What a truly lovely post.
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My Dad would love nothing more than a bit of a party with all my blogging friends
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Of all of the “characters” in your stories, Dallas, your dad is my favorite! 🙂
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You’ve made his day, Maddie!
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Your lovely Dad never fails to make me laugh. Perhaps he could get a job at the hardware? Seriously,more shelves?!
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I’m surprised he hasn’t been thrown out by store security the amount of time he spends there – he’s on first name terms with all the staff and when they wave to him, he tells me that they all know him there – yep Dad they think you’re a crazy stalker!
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He’s such a character. Also quite dapper in his day too it would seem…
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He did brush up well to be fair
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What a man your Dad is, I am sure the ladies just love him to bits. Really enjoyed reading about the dancing handyman 🙂
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He still an old fashioned kind of gent and stops and talks to everybody
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Dallas you dad is the cream on the top. What a charming man. Did you ever dance with your feet on top of his as a child?
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I did indeed just before bedtime after the washing up!
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Your dad is so entertaining and I like the old black & white photos. 🙂
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Whilst my Dad has been recuperating he’s had time on his hands so we’ve both been sorting through some of his pictures, so there’s been a few laughs and the odd tear or two
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Ah…
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Lovely old photos, Dallas. Your dad sounds like he’s lost none of his charm with the ladies. What a sweetheart he is. 🙂
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I get such a kick out of your dad!
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He’s a star (a bit like your Mum)!
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‘Dancing is like dreaming with your feet’ How true – a wonderful way of putting it.
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Ah, love the sound of your dad! And great pictures!
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What a fun dad! I enjoyed your post about him. 🙂
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He certainly has his moments and secretly I think he enjoys embarassing me!
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hahaha, probably his greatest pleasure! 🙂
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