Dancing in Itahwon

Just got back from a night of dancing in Itahwon. They played Young MC, Madonna, and Vanilla Ice. I was in heaven, especially with my fantastic dance partners. I hooked up with a crew of Canucks full of love and absolute freedom. We did the running man, the old heart-thump-squeeze, and managed to grind it up when MJ's Beat It pulled us from our seats.

"Come!" they shouted to me. "You have to!!"

It's hard to say no to a gaggle of pretty girls, putting up their hands like hearts for you, saying they love you, and then literally pulling you out of your seat. There just wasn't any choice in the matter. Besides, it was Aretha going strong with a heavy backbeat looped under. I was already pulling the imaginary gear shift and waving people on the bus before the Canucks even got a chance to say, "Bus stop!"

"Shopping!" a girl with a CBGB shirt yelled to me, "Shopping CART!"

I watched as she hopped back and forth on her legs, while pushing an imaginary cart in front of her, reaching for an imaginary canned good, and placing it into the cart to the rhythm of "Just a little bit..."

We all copied the groove. Then I got into a heart-to-heart with a girl from London. She told me I was a worthy opponent. I smiled back at her. Then she pointed to the platform below her. "Go there," she said.

"What?" I asked.

"There," she pointed.

I stepped down and she jumped into my arms. I nearly fell over as I caught her and put her back on the ground.

"I wanted to test your strength," she explained.

I smiled. We chatted about our backgrounds. I told her I was Persian. She told me she liked Parsis and India. I dercribed the journey to Korea. She said she didn't want to talk about spiritual things. I bought her tequilas. She thanked me for the chat.

"It's was nice," she said.

"Yeah," I agreed. "When do you leave for Tokyo?"

"Tomorrow," she said. "Then back to London."

"Oh," I said. "London sounds fun."

"It's an interesting place. It has its own special flavor."

"Well, I'll have to come to visit then."

"How old are you?"

"30."

"Good," she smiled. "I thought I was too old for you."

"How old are you?"

"Younger," she smiled.

One of her associates came over and whispered into her ear. There was some business issue. "I'm having a chat here," I heard her say. There were more words exchanged, then she got up. "It was really nice talking with you," she said and held out her hand. "Yes," I said and shook it.

I walked back to my table. I wasn't there for more than 10 seconds before I was prodded by the Canucks to get her number. "Go!" they said. "Get over there!" I listened. I bought two tequilas. I walked onto the dance floor. I handed one to her. We drank without a word.

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Yesterday I bought a guitar. It's purple with pearl inlay. I want to play it all the time. I even want to paint it.

"Don't paint it," a friend said.

"Why?" I asked. "Don't you like my paintings?"

"There okay," he said.

"You don't like my paintings?" I laughed.

"Well, they're all right. It's just that-"

"It's okay, L.," I smiled. "You don't have to like my paintings."

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Now I'm going to the temple. I would like to play my guitar. I would like to talk to the blonde girl from London. I would like to sleep a couple more hours. But now I'm going to the temple.






"I just wanted to test your strength," she said.




Temple...