It was a clear black night

Tonight was the night! The night of the big dance! I had agreed to be an “adult” presence at the “I Hate Valentines Day” dance. I generally have a pretty good time at these functions; it gives me a good chance to interact with the students in a more relaxed environment. The head of security had asked how much of a presence we wanted security to be at the dance to which I replied,

“If you got me that tazer I keep asking for, security wouldn’t even need to show…”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen, but it was worth a try. Now the only dilemma was whatever was I going to wear!?!?! Luckily, the students and a co-worker designed a shirt to help promote the dance and to serve as staff shirts for the dance. BRILLIANT!!!

One of the best things about these functions is watching all the different dance stylings the students showcase; I don’t even know that giving a vivid description in text form will do the particular couple I have in mind justice. You really had to be there. To give you an idea of the dramatistic approach they had: At one point I caught one of them grab a rose from the table and immediately pulled it up to her nose as she inhaled deeply, which lasted for what seemed like a solid two minutes, all as an expression of pure ecstasy and joy lit up her face. When she finally pulled the rose from her nose her eyes fluttered with pure content and she flailed her arms and hands as if she could not contain the overwhelming scent of decayed romance any longer. Now keep in mind the theme of the dance. The roses had been purchased last week and left to dry out and die to lend credence to the “I Hate Valentine’s” motto. This was easily the best moment of the evening for me and quite possibly the best moment of the semester thus far. She was my favorite.

Another highlight of the evening was when a co-worker and I realized there were little heart slips, so people could put in requests to the DJ…YUSSSSSS!!!

“we regulate any stealing of his property and we damn good too. But you can’t be any geek off the street, gotta be handy with the steel if you know what I mean, earn your keep! REGULATORS!!! MOUNT UP!”

Needless to say, the dance floor cleared and students were looking mighty befuddled. Yet, there was a group of guys who moseyed onto the dance floor; this was the first time these guys got up from their seats at any point in the night. So, see. Our song requests made them feel part of the dance too! I’m all bout creating an environment of inclusiveness. O.K. fine, my main goal was to re-live my earlier high school years and turn the dance into a 90s nostalgia dance party; it was unsuccessful. The DJ caught on as only a few of the many requests we put in were actually played. I’m still a little bummed out Montel Jordan’s This is How We Do It never came on.

Overall, a good time was had by the students and all except for the minor little altercation at the end of the night. The mystery of the plastic water bottle and the thrown hat. It really wasn’t a mystery, but these are things I should probably not discuss in the blog-o-sphere; at least until after the judicial hearing. Let’s just say, that tazer would have come in handy.

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