Monday, October 14, 2013

Trifecta: Damn That Moment!


Piazza S. Eustachio
Rome, Italy


I watched as the snowy-haired, wrinkly-skinned accordion player fluidly pumped the bellows of his tattered instrument bringing two children upright in pure delight.

The baby (two maybe three), entranced by twinkling eyes and rhythmic motion of his body, began twirling.

With sheer abandon. Arms overhead.Without concern for anything but her glee.

The older one (six or seven), twirled once then glanced around. Desire in her eyes yet paralyzed with self-consciousness. Slipping behind her mother.

When is that moment? The moment we realize then stop.

Start watching. Stop twirling. Start caring.

Somewhere between two and seven.

Damn that moment.

*****************************

This week Trifecta is giving us a page from the Oxford English Dictionary. The ninety-ninth page, to be exact.  Click here. From this page, we can choose any word, any definition, to use in our post.  (The word I chose is in bold.)  And instead of the typical 33-333 word limit, they are asking for 99 words exactly. 

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

Damn that moment indeed. I'm glad my little one hasn't reached that moment yet. I can only hope when my kids get older that they choose to go back to the time where they danced with abandon, not a care about who watched. Great story!

Kir said...

Gina, oh how I loved this. I want to get back to that feeling of abandon, of PURE joy and dance like no one is watching. My sons are still dancing like that...they shake, they boogie, they allow themselves the glee..and when I'm with them , I stand up and dance too.

sigh, how beautiful your words are my friend.

brudberg said...

That damned moment... this one was so bittersweet and nicely written...

Anonymous said...

Well done. I've always wondered when that moment was.

Anonymous said...

Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

Oh! That moment when we lose that carefree nature... Lovely write. :-)
-HA

JannaTWrites said...

Great observation! That is a cruel moment.

Anonymous said...

Damn that moment. Once it happens, going backwards is so very difficult. This is so beautifully written and poignant.

Lisa Yow-Williams said...

This is a lovely story. It's sad to reach that moment, but we all do.

TMWHickman said...

I've often yearned to be able to go back, before "that moment".

Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

Oh, for the days where we could dance with reckless abandon. :)

Nice work.

kymm said...

I love this, Gina!
I feel like I am just on the cusp back over that moment (much to my daughters' chagrin).

Gina said...

I don't know, once we realize it, that we can ever go back. Not look around, not care who sees. I think we can capture a moment or two every once in awhile when we forget that anyone is watching. I'm sorry to say that I don't live that way anymore. Sad! Thanks for visiting!!!

Gina said...

You are so my favorite!!! Really PURE anything, right? It was so charming and lovely to see this little Italian girl. It was also interesting, very, to observe the difference between her and her sister who are separated only by a few short years. But then, 4 years when you are 3 and 7, is a lot.

You are so lucky to still see that with your boys. We used to dance together when they were little too! I wonder...My son, 20, still loves to dance (will ask me all the time and twirl me around until my head spins). My daughter is a little more cautious. Could it also be related to personality type?

Gina said...

Damn it! Thank you, Bjorn. That's how it felt watching these girls last week (bittersweet).

Gina said...

When we are far too young. That's when I think...

Gina said...

Thanks!!!

Gina said...

If only it came in a bottle for use in adulthood. Someone would be filthy rich if they could figure that one out. Thanks, HA.

Gina said...

Cruel, yes. But part of life.

Gina said...

Going back longterm is difficult. I think there can be moments.

Thank you for your kind words.

Gina said...

Thank you. And sadly, we do.

Gina said...

Calgon, take me away!!!

Thanks, Tina!

Gina said...

These days, it takes a glass of wine or two. Thanks!

Gina said...

Thanks, kymm!

Maybe it does come back around when we get older. A point were we say "screw it". I'm going to be how I want to be, like it or not. Hopefully!

Unknown said...

Ah, this is great. Damn that moment indeed.

Gina said...

Thanks! Indeed!!!

Jennifer said...

Oh I so agree. Damn that awareness.

Sandra said...

This is lovely...and so true!

Valerie Boersma said...

I agree with this-so utterly true. Damn the moment.

Perfection, Gina!

Gina said...

Once we reach that age, whatever one that is, we can't help it.

Gina said...

Thanks, Sandra!

Gina said...

I almost used a stronger word than "damn" but decided against it even though it's how I feel. You are way too nice, Valerie. Thank you! Congrats on your placement this week. I always love your writing.

steph said...

Paralyzed by self-consciousness - oh yes - that moment - damn it to hell. Love the introspective aspect of this, Gina. Very nice.

Draug said...

Great work.

Anonymous said...

This is really beautiful. Just today I watched my almost 7 year old boogie in the bakery while deciding what to order. Melts my heart every time. Excellent post!

Gina said...

Thanks, steph!

Gina said...

Thank you!

Gina said...

It was gorgeous to watch myself. I'm happy and a bit jealous you saw it yesterday. I want it back. That moment. Those moments when you don't realize you aren't by yourself.

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC. I dread that moment. What a great, introspective piece, Gina!

Ivy said...

Fantastic piece! Very well written.

I think, as you said to Kir, personalities come into play, too. My 11-year-old daughter has yet to have that moment. Love that about her. :)

Atreyee said...

How beautifully you described this Gina-so true,the moment which can never be returned to-and a good question-why do we become so conscious and start caring about what others may think or say-damn it!!

Lance said...

I see this moment with mine, now that they're older and I make sure I document it

I loved the imagery, here

Agincourtdb said...

Loved it.

Thomas Charles MacInnes said...

Of course, you know that the flipside of this is true, as well. We have all been at weddings and the like, where someone who should stop dancing just insists on dancing and dancing some more! Damn those who don't know when enough dancing is enough! :) But seriously, I still treasure every single second of innocence that my girls maintain. I know I will shed a tear or two when Santa ceases to be magical and the like. You captured that moment perfectly......unfortunately, if you know what I mean.

Trifecta said...

Fantastic, Gina. That was lovely. I hate that moment. I can narrow it down a little more for you. My youngest is nearly 5. She just started caring. Thanks for linking. Don't forget to vote.

Gina said...

I did, too. Thank you, Christine.

Gina said...

I do believe its personality driven. Thanks, Ivy.

Gina said...

I there are moments you can't return to, I believe. This is one of them. Atreyee, you are always such a supportive audience for me. Thank you so much!!!

Gina said...

Documentation, in any form, is important. Thanks, Lance.

Gina said...

Oh, I know the dancing fool you mean! Yeah, the Santa think stinks when the big exposure happens. Hard to fully describe the feeling as a parent. Yes, unfortunately! Thanks, Tom.

Gina said...

It was sweet, bittersweet, to observe. I lived it with my own so many years ago. But I have outgoing older children so occasionally a little but of the "I'm carefree" still comes out.