Fake and Forced Fun is No Fun July 23, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Music & Dance, People.comments closed
Suzi wrote a post a few weeks ago about music being the universal language.
I agree.
With whole heart.
Music pulls us together, whether it’s a jazz trio, a drum circle on the beach, or an entire symphony offering a shared experience.
Attending concerts, especially outdoor concerts, is relaxing and energizing.
I seldom need an invitation to start dancing.
In fact, I sometimes dance in the ice cream aisle at Publix while perusing the freezer cases for buckets of Blue Bell Pralines and Pecan. But only if there is a really good song playing over the loudspeakers.
Music connects us to the shared heart beat of life.
Except when it doesn’t.
A few weeks ago, we attended a Jimmy Buffett deck party at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar. As we sat on the Halftime Deck celebrating our 29th Anniversary, we listened to Buffett tunes and watched people “trying too hard” to have fun.
One over-zealous party animal circulated through the crowd, clapping her hands in people’s faces, while encouraging them to reciprocate.
No luck.
Another card-carrying parrot-head started tossing a beach ball around the crowded deck while screaming, “Let’s get this party started!”
Blank stares.
Have you ever tried to play catch with a cat who isn’t in the mood?
You toss the ball (or beach hat). The cat stares at it. Then at you. Without making any effort to retrieve the proffered toy.
To continue playing, you must be both tosser and tossee.
That’s what happened.
Mr. Party Enthusiast tossed the beach ball, hoping to having someone bat it back to him. When no one did, he retrieved the ball and tossed it again. And again. And again.
A third party-goer tried tribal screams: “Margaritas!” (Nada.) “Tequila Shot!” (Nothing.) “Cheeseburgers in Paradise!” (Bemused glances.) “Searching for my lost shaker of salt!” (No Response.) “Landshark!” (Zilch.)
Our FREE Anniversary Appetizer arrived . . . pretty as a party on a plate!
I sipped my FREE Sangria and nibbled my FREE Anniversary Appetizer while grinning at the tireless trio’s efforts.
The more desperate the trio became to create enthusiasm, the more fake, forced and phony it felt.
No Fun.
Sometimes sitting & sipping on the sidelines at Halftime beats forced frivolity.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Have you ever witnessed people trying too hard to have fun?
It’s a big pile of AWKWARD, isn’t it? 
Jazz Trio by Barbara Hines ~ Island Gallery West
Spirit Lights The Way 