This weekend I finally realized just how close I am to graduation.

When I go dancing on Thursday nights in Minneapolis, there’s one song that often gets played. It’s called “I’m Gonna Miss Minneapolis” and it’s by Vic Volare. I’ve never liked that song. In fact, I distinctly dislike it. It’s just way too lounge-y and cheeseball for my tastes (no surprise there, since Vic has a lounge orchestra). Of course, this weekend, I didn’t have to listen to it. In fact, I listened to lots of music I liked, and danced until my feet felt like lead weights (what better way to spend a weekend).

Yet, as I drove home on Sunday night from my most excellent weekend at Midwest Lindyfest, I couldn’t help but think about how much I am going to miss all my Minneapolis dancer friends–even more than my college friends–when I leave in a few weeks.

College is, in a sense, always your home away from home. From the beginning, you’ve known the party had to end sometime. It can’t be socially acceptable to drink at 8am forever. Your place at college is temporary. It’s beyond reality. Everything is temporary, and eventually we all must spread out into the world to do the things we were educated to do, whether it be in economic consulting or flipping burgers while pondering Kierkegaard. That’s always just been the nature of the beast.

Swing dancers are another matter entirely. No matter how strange and cult-like the swing dancing culture may be, swing dancing is reality. My swing dancing friends are rooted in the community. They are permanent fixtures while my life–and the lives of all my college friends–swirl in uncertainty. To leave college is to leave nothing behind; everyone else goes with you. But to leave dancing friends is to leave behind a community intact. That’s a much tougher loss to stomach.

Of course, I’ll be back. I’m already planning my first return trip, for the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown. My friend dubbed it Homecoming because of all the ex-Minneapolites that will be back. But Mr. Volare, you’re right about one thing; I’m gonna miss Minneapolis.

Posted on May 9th, 2006 by Lee
Filed under: Uncategorized