Dancing in Spanish Harlem

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

So yesterday was my birthday 🙂

And I’ll tell you what…if there’s one thing I took away from the day, aside from how special friends and loved ones are, it’s how infinitely beautiful and diverse the culture is in NYC.

Indulge me for a moment.

Yesterday was one of those days that literally goes on forever. I kid you not, I think I saw just about every walk of life in one afternoon.

My friend and I went to The Cloisters – which is a monastery-turned MET art gallery way up in Washington Heights, where we heard probably 5 different languages from the myriad of European tourists taking in our *culture.*

The rest of the day consisted of a walk through The Bronx, getting lost in Spanish Harlem, happy hour at a Puerto Rican bar in Harlem, dinner at an uppity/cross-fit/health nut/vegan place downtown in Greenwich Village, drinks at a sports bar in midtown, and finally, a nightcap with a celebrity chef we randomly met from Spain at a speakeasy in the Financial District.

So. Much. Culture.

It’s safe to say that by the end of the day…my feet hurt.

But there was one moment yesterday that really stood out to me.

It happened when my friend and I were strolling through the Bronx. And for a girl who rarely goes above 14th Street in the Village, being up in 160’s/170’s was a far cry from home.

But one fun fact about me, is that during the first couple years that I lived in the city, I was the lead singer of a latin cover band.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “But…you’re not…”

I KNOW, people.

However, I have seven years of spanish under my belt, and I have an uncanny ear for accents. (Maybe it was all the practice I had as a kid doing weird accents around the house.)

But I digress.

Anywho – as a result of this little musical endeavor, I know all of the latin hits.

So walking through the Bronx yesterday, past all the open air hooka bars with sidewalk seating, blasting the latest latin hits; or the Barber shops and Beauty Parlors where there were groups of ladies or gentlemen congregated outside around a boom box, my ears were having a nostalgic field day.

And as we were walking by one of those barber shops, my all time favorite song came on, called Carnival.

I started singing it to myself, and did a little dance/walk/shoulder thing because…I am *that* cool.

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And all of a sudden, this little old man, all of about 5’4″, comes over and starts dancing with me to this Latin hit, surprised that I knew the words. And he was smiling this big, toothy grin -albeit missing several teeth. But we just had this beautiful moment of joy, dancing to the same music. We didn’t speak the same language, but we did speak music. We did speak joy.

That connection was just so genuine and pure.

Riding the subway back down the 150 blocks or so — for 45 minutes — I couldn’t help but think about that frail, little old man.

And I know this sounds cheesy, but I kept thinking about God in him.

I hate to admit it, but from the outside, this man was not someone I would have typically sought out to interact with. I mean, his clothes were worn and dirty, I don’t think he had showered in a couple days. And I mean…I’m big on dental hygiene. But dancing with him – even for just that 8 second chorus – there was such a beautiful light that radiated from him.

That was God inside of him. That was the inherent worth and value and beauty that all of us possess, simply for being made in His image, reflecting His light.

But how many times have I missed opportunities like that, simply because I’ve been deterred by the outside packaging?

Sure, maybe not a spontaneous dance sequence that legit looked like it could have come out of a scene of some Spanish-version of Grease. But what kinds of meaningful connections have I passed by, simply because I was too focused on the outside, or too wrapped up in myself, or my iPhone?

God is all around us. Within us. Sometimes you just have to look past the rough exterior.

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

429 thoughts on “Dancing in Spanish Harlem”

  3. Happy Birthday, Sweet One !! I am so glad you enjoyed every single second of the day !!! Good for you !!! What a special story about the dance with the little old man. I could see him through your description. I could feel the beat and see the joy in both of you !! God is indeed within us all !! You are filled with light, love, and God … and you are beautiful inside and out !! I just told your story to my husband. He said, “God bless her!”
    God has blessed you indeed. your friend, jan

    Like

    1. Thank you so much Jan. Yeah I am so grateful for such a beautiful with good friends yesterday. God is good. And yes He is within all of us! That’s what makes the world a beautiful place. And wow! Gosh Jan I am so touched by that. Thank you with all my heart:) grateful for you. Hugs and love xox

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  4. The Cloisters is a beautiful facility, and far enough off the “beaten path” that few New Yorkers get there. One of the other treats in Manhattan is the walking tours of lower Manhattan, usually led by grad students from NYU — you get to see aspects of the City most people never notice. A lot of fun, if you wear comfortable shoes.
    NY and NJ are the most diverse areas of the US. One school district in NJ has students who speak one or more of 38 different languages. Diversity gives a vitality that you just can’t find in much of the country anymore.

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  9. That sounds like so much fun!! Happy Belated Birthday!!

    When I first started reading your post it kind of made me think of church…. I know weird? These days when we are singing, the lights are low like in a concert or something. I feel like it separates people. I can remember years ago before the whole “experience” thing was going around, and I could make eye contact with people around me. We used to share in the singing of chorus’ and dance (albeit a tamer version). I miss it so much….. to be able to look at someone you don’t know and just “know” what they are feeling, because you are sharing in the moment.

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  13. Interesting. I’ve only been to NYC about half a dozen times. Once on business in 1970’s, a couple of times to visit with my brother who now lives in Harlem. He used to live in upper East side. During one visit we did a matinee and evening performance at the Met. We saw Cav & Pag and Il Trovatore. Standing room only. Loved doing the opera. Harder for me to get back there these days.

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      2. Thanks Joe! oh gosh, LA — I know I’d fall in love with it! I spent the summer there, and know that if I stayed any longer than that, it would have been permanent! haha Hugs and love xox

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  14. You definitely hit on one of the things I love about living in NYC (the culture/diversity), and one of the things I missed when I went off to college for four years. Oh…and happy birthday!

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  16. Haha, sounds like quite a scene. I remember my mom introducing me to Celia Cruz. I never cared much for her music, but it reminds me of her.
    !Feliz Cumpleaños!

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  17. Reblogged this on Church Set Free and commented:
    I have had a few birthdays. I know the routine. Decade ones are extra effort all round. In-betweenies are much the same – great fun and special (give or take a few giggles here and a few less giggles there).

    Bu I have never written this about any birthday:

    “We didn’t speak the same language, but we did speak music. We did speak joy.”

    BBB does. Even on her own very special day BBB connects with something that draws me in (and a big bunch of others!). So here is her birthday post. Why not see if she draws you in?

    (as always, for reblogs, comments are closed here – BBB replies to every comment – no matter how many there are – thank you)

    Like

  18. Ok I LOVE that you we’re the lead singer in a Latin cover band. That alone *made* this post! You should never enter into another conversation with someone new, ever again, without leading with that! Quirky things like this are fantastic! Now my question is…was anyone Latin in Latin cover band?

    Liked by 1 person

    2. hahah thanks 🙂 that’s actually my friends’ opinion too! they all think it’s really quirky and fun 🙂 Yes! I was the only one that wasn’t from Venezuela or Puerto Rico! It was very cool. 🙂 Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  21. My dear friend

    Really nice story 🙂

    But first allow me to congratulate you for your Birthday you had yesterday – although it comes one day later:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend – may God bless you and keep His protecting hand over you.

    Back to the story:
    The spontanious way of both you brought out the sparkle of love and light, of God in you both. – There are so many poor people who have to wear even dirty clothes, drink dirty water, have not even a tooth brush – but what they all have: God in them – and this light is shining sometimes when we have an open heart and greet us warmly from human being to human being, or from heart to heart – this was the language of your heart (his and yours) – often our mind does not allow such spontanious ways and our heart are closed then… God can appear to us in all forms and we are sometimes even testet…

    Big hugs and again for your yesterday’s birthday
    Didi

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Didi! oh thank you so much! Yeah, yesterday was a really special day, and Im’ so grateful for that little interaction with that light-emitting man. What a powerful perspective. You’re right – all have God in them. thanks for stopping by. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Beautiful Post 🙂
    Wish you a very happy birthday dear(belated)….and a very happy new year. I am sure that this year has hiding so many surprises for you…..have a blast and explore them all….
    May God Bless You
    Stay happy and Blessed 🙂

    Like

  23. Hey happy birthday to you! I love this post, I really got a lot from it, I’m going through a phase lately where I am really connecting with people on that level and it’s pretty awesome. I love your work, recovery is so astonishing, we learn so much about ourselves and life in general

    Like

  24. Happy Birthday sounds like an amazing day and one where a past talent emerged, who knows, this angel may have been sent to make you realise to let loose and have fun like you used to??

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  25. Birthdays like this make aging wonderful. I think my favorite line was this one: “We didn’t speak the same language, but we did speak music. We did speak joy.” If only more people could speak joy.

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  26. Although I am not a Spanish linguist by any stretch of the imagination, I am a Korean linguist and will just say “Sangil Chuka hamnida!” I hope your day resides in the forefront of your memories for a long time to come!

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  30. First and foremost – Happy Birthday! (I’m not a new follower, but I just recreated myself, so to speak).

    And I found this post of yours to be a bit of an enlightenment and I can’t help but remember that his you discuss an ideal that I used to hold as a true principle – the ability to see goodness in everyone. It’s a nice reminder that treating people with kindness and joy and ignoring our human inkling towards judgment is so important, isn’t it?

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  31. Happy belated birthday friend!!
    The punch line of your post hit me hard.
    How many times we look at the outside of the package instead of the inside.
    And because of that we miss opportunities to connect and impact!

    Rolain

    Like

  34. August 6th, feast of the Transfiguration? What an appropriate birth day, many happy returns! 🙂 My second son was just born that afternoon too, so the joy is spreading!

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  36. Happy birthday, BBB! I have nothing to give you than to wish you the best. Many happy returns in total health and prosperity. Hip!!! Hurray!

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  37. There you go again.

    Dancing is such a beautiful way of relating. All the words get out of the way, everything that we’ve been taught about God and our place in his creation, and we connect at the deepest level to the truth that we were designed to feel his love pulsing through us.

    When I used to go night-clubbing, the manager at my favorite spot would defend me against people that complained about the way I danced. He said “Brian, what I see is that wherever you are on the dance floor, that’s where the people gather.” An onlooker came up to me one night and said “You know, I took a video of you dancing and posted it on Facebook, and I got 5000 hits.” One night the lead singer of the band stopped between numbers to say “You know, sir, when you dance it’s like watching pure joy.”

    One of the owners came up one night and told me that he never wanted me to dance that way again. So I’ve never gone back.

    Someday maybe we’ll be in the same neck of the woods and go dancing together, Caralyn. I’d love that.

    Brian

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      1. It’s not how I dance, Caralyn, it’s why I dance. Music creates a shared vibration in the spirits of the listeners. I enter into that vibration and bend it towards love. That is my joy.

        I’ve got changes in my life that I need to manage, so I may not be active here for a while. If you need anything, drop me a note out at one of my blogs.

        Blessings and peace, Brian

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  43. Happy birthday! I’m so happy you got to experience a little bit of salsa dancing with God’s beautiful light in another person. I bet the street was shining brightly. I love Celia btw and think it OH SO COOL you were a Latin singer! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful post 💕

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  46. Happy belated birthday!! This was real, and honest! Thanks so much for sharing this and also love what you said about God being inside of us.

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  49. Happy Birthday! My birthday was yesterday (The 7th) and I was born in Manhattan – Mount Sinai Hospital. I’m excited that we’re planning a trip there next summer for my 30th birthday. My husband has never been to the city! Since I was born at 25 weeks, my parents took me back to the hospital every year until I was 16. The last time I was in the city was when I was 18 and a senior in high school, and my high school orchestra had the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall. I have so many memories of visiting the city, and I cannot wait to show it all to my husband next year!

    Like

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