It was called The Park, or as we said in central Maine, "The Pahk." I only went there once, and I'd have to say that attendance was semi-voluntary. There were the competing factors of teen boy hormones and a professed hatred of disco music.
Yes, it was 1978. I was sixteen years old and I wanted to go out with Dori. The fact that I would put myself through the misery of a real disco gives you all the evidence necessary to prove my level of desperation.
The Park was the real thing — leisure suits, ultra-amped bass, and flashing lights embedded in the dance floor. Dori might have been the draw, but 30 seconds in and I began to secretly pine for my cheapo stereo and my Bad Company records. Since I got to hang around with Dori, I got to thinking that maybe the place wasn't that bad. And, despite my protestations, I actually did like some of the music.
Except for the Bee Gees.
I just could not figure out the attraction. Big, scary hair. Big, scary teeth... and that damned falsetto. What the heck was that?!
"Stayin' Alive" was probably played that night, as well as "You Should Be Dancin." I'm not sure during which ballad it was, but I'd take a bathroom break and returned to find Dori dancing very closely with some other guy. What the heck was that?!! I bet the song was "Too Much Heaven." Yeah, it just had to be.
Well, on the way home all was forgiven as much trading of personal spaces ensued. Maybe Dori took pity on me for that other guy thing, or the fact that I put up with The Park in the first place. I didn't really care, as her proximity pretty much overwhelmed me with that intense hormone flush. Oh man, those body chemicals will make a boy rationalize pretty much anything. Bee Gees? Ah, who cares?!!
Article comments
1 - Pico
That was too easy. Let's see them cover "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?"
2 - Jordan Richardson
I know I'm sold.
3 - Lisa Solod Warren
OMG. That is too weird.