Red Gold

In addition to my latest, temporary vow of celibacy, I had also resolved last Saturday that should anyone ever ask me to dance in a situation that stretched my comfort zone/dancing skills, I would say yes. I still regret having turned down the offer to learn tango from a handsome Italian man after our mutual friends' wedding in Italy. It was a long time ago... I was in my Audrey Hepburn outfit and had just eased off my sandals. I panicked at his invitation and used the feeble excuse after looking around the cafe (which was not playing tango music) that my feet were sore.

In other words, my second vow was to take that well-known phrase "Dance like nobody is watching" to heart. Funnily enough, I put the vow to the test sooner than expected. When we arrived at my late-night wine bar the other night, it was pretty quiet. Some empty tables and only a few couples or regulars at the bar. Reggae Cool gave me some money for the wine and went off to choose a table with Chica. I followed the waiter over -- after sensibly asked for a carafe of water as well -- and joined them.

After a while I got impatient that the staff had not made room in the tiny dining room for the dance floor. Newcomers were sitting in the middle of our dance floor. So I went over and cheekily asked them to move to another, free table, explaining they were now sitting on the after hours dance floor. I swear I was sober. After a moment's hesitation they kindly obliged me.

Reggae Cool and Chica got up to dance salsa style. She was a good salsa dancer, I noticed. I already knew he was very good. Another few people got up. A blond woman in her 30s got up to dance on her own. Reggae and Chica returned to the table. Next thing I knew, the Blond held out her hand to me mid-dance. I shrugged, laughed, and got up to join her.

It was good fun. We chatted a bit while dancing... I thought she was Scottish but she was French from Montpelier, which I only know of by name; she thought I was Irish but I am not. She has lived in Dublin for 11 or so years, me a total of 14 so far. We were not dancing salsa style, more of our own somewhat bouncy styles. At one point she stopped dancing, looked at me and said "you are a sexy woman." I stopped dancing in surprise, thanked her and then kept dancing. I honestly can't remember the last time somebody thought I was sexy.

I have to say it is good for the ego. Especially since a neighbor had asked me if I was pregnant last Friday night (I'm not).