Member-only story
What a Feeling
A 30-day Series of Music Memories
I remember how my mom’s eyes widened with shock when I told her I loved the movie Flashdance. She was picking me up from school; I was in third grade, and Irene Cara’s “What a Feeling” came on the car radio.
I saw it at my best friend’s house. They always had HBO playing, whether anyone was watching or not. That’s also how I saw the movies Mommy Dearest and Desperately Seeking Susan.
The thing about Flashdance was the music.
Now I hear the music
Close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash, it takes hold of my heart
YES! I close my eyes, and it takes hold of my eight-year-old heart. I’m back in my childhood bedroom — a skinny, freckly, awkward little kid who struggled to fit in at school.
Music doesn’t care.
The song filled my entire soul and forced me to dance like I was dancing for my life, taking my passion and making it happen — full-out, behind-my-closed-bedroom-door-just-like-the-lady-in-the-movie kinds of dancing.
After dancing my heart out to the point of exhaustion, I remember the quiet space inside. A space that allowed me to feel a little bit beautiful and a whole lot awesome, even if only for slightly longer than the length of the song.
