Monday, January 14, 2008

ABBA Mania (with one of the B's backwards)

How much fun can be had recalling the 70s and 80s with a bunch of girls who lived them? Well I shall tell you..... Last night 10 of us went to Abba Mania- no it is not the real ABBA, just people dressing up like them and singing their songs. They aren't really trying to be them, but just enjoying the fun of the old music.

Unfortunately we had to sit through the wanna be Rod Stewart before the real fun began. Some of the girls tried to enjoy it, but Elaine and I basically attempted to hide, pretend we weren't there and try not to be embarrassed. A little hard to do when your friend Carrie, who is the most extroverted person I have ever known, has to buy tickets front and center. At least the man could sing and did sound quite a bit like Rod Stewart, but that is about where it ended. When he came down to sit across our laps I had to cringe. I think he noticed by my obvious lack of eye contact. You know you are sitting too close when you can make frequent eye contact, or in my case, lack thereof with the singer on stage. Unfortunately a late 50s women also in the front row found him very entertaining and found herself dancing with him, and up on stage doing the kick line and we could all see her pantyhose. Fortunately, I don't know that she'll remember it in the morning.
OK... so then ABBA arrived and we sang our little hearts out to Voulez-Vous and Dancing Queen. Somehow my extremely extroverted friend found herself dancing on stage with a microphone in her hand. I think it had something to do with the gold "disco ball" shirt. The joy of it all is that I wished I could be so free, but knew myself well enough to know that I would have much more fun sitting exactly where I was enjoying watching her. I would probably feel like a fool once I got up there. Maybe when I'm in my late 50s and have had some wine.... maybe then I won't care so much.


Don't you just LOVE the boots! It just takes you back!


Carrie and Marie giving their all!

I was trying to determine whether it was if I cared what people thought of me, or if it is really that I am just a different personality and am not as free to throw up my arms and sing. I do care too much what people think and am training my thoughts this year to be concerned only for an audience of ONE. This society is definitely created for extroverts to succeed, and those who put themselves out there are valued and esteemed and do seem to get further in certain ways. It seems like society puts it out there that it is better to be outgoing and open, but what if that is just not the way you are? I am not a total introvert by any means, I tend to be more on the outgoing side sometimes, but I am married to one. I think the problem is that we are always comparing ourselves to each other. Wanting to be what we are not, wanting gifts other people are given, and then not using our own because we're stuck thinking ours are no good. So I am thankful for the strengths and gifts I see in different people. And I am thankful for my quiet, peaceful friends as much as I am for my wild and crazy ones. I think the wonderful qualities that I see, like Joy and Peacefulness, Contentment, Laughter, Contemplativeness, Humility are all parts of Jesus and how he displays them in His children and I want more of Him to fill me like that too!


1 comment:

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

Great post. I can relate to what you're saying so much. There's always that struggle to just be content with who God has made you to be.