Zoom Dance Party

I haven't been too keen on joining events on Zoom.  True confession, I am not crazy about Zoom.  I've had to attend several Zoom meetings, and they tend to be more distracting than anything.  People lose their connections, sound breaks up, dogs bark, children scream.

But when a cousin in Florida told me about an event being co-sponsored by AARP and an organization called Daybreaker, a two hour dance party that would feature the O'Jays and Dionne Warwick, I decided it would be a nice way to spend a late Saturday morning/early Saturday afternoon.

After all, we had gotten plowed out from our historic snowstorm around 8pm yesterday, and plows showed up three more times for the express purpose of making sure our driveway and path to our front door were blocked by the mounds of snow they threw up to make sure our road was somewhat clear.  That was cause to celebrate.

(Hey Weather Channel, maybe time to change your slide to "Winter".)

So was the sun showing up, which also meant it was cold out.  And indeed it was (5 degrees F equals -15 C for my Celsius using readers).  That's the rule around the Southern Tier of New York in mid to late December.  Sun equals cold.

First good thing of today - son texts, he is finally able to get out of his driveway.  Someone's car had gotten stuck in the road right in front of the end of his driveway, and subsequently got buried.  No one had plowed his trailer park, so everyone was stuck.  Finally, last night, someone plowed it out, and this morning he came over.  With his strong muscles, he got rid of the plow piles and then used our underpowered electric snow blower (pro tip, do not buy a plug in electric snow blower).  It's still a tight squeeze but we could get out.  By then, it was 11:30 and the dance party was already a half hour old.

Second good thing - I sign onto the dance party, and I make contact.  Our Internet has been going in and out the last three days.   The first segment was yoga and I watched for a few minutes.  I have never done yoga, and the instructor was going way too fast, blending one pose into another and then another.

But, 15 minutes in, the Internet quits.  Reboot modem, reboot laptop, swear a little. After 25 minutes I'm back on.

Soon after, I'm moving and enjoying the music.  The DJ (maybe more like a VJ) did a nice job.  The participants seemed to be of all ages - young families, seniors.

She announced the O'Jays and I'm looking at three older men.  Not all are originals - they have had their share of tragedy.

The O'Jays did "I Love Music" and "Love Train".

Love Train, from 1972, will get anyone up to dance.

After some more music, and a segment where people were asked to share photos of those they are missing (either from death or separation due to COVID), Dionne Warwick signed on from her living room.

(Not today's performance).

I don't know if it was my imagination or if she had a slightly rough start with her live performance today, but the rough spot was quickly smoothed over with the rest of her song.

I will definitely consider other online events.  And maybe we'll even (who knows) get a mail delivery today.

One more plug:  Do you love music?  Sweet, sweet music?  Why not join me every Monday for #MusicMovesMe?

Do you like Zoom?