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”

  1. Happy, happy, happy birthday! It sounds like you had a wonderful day in that glorious city of NY (i used to leave there 🙂 ).

    That moment of dancing with the old man is glorious. Each of us is God within, so true! Funny, I just did a post similar to that. When my mom was murdered, I worked through a lot of forgiveness. One thing I had a tough time with was how we are ALL worthy of forgiveness, that it’s not about deserving – it’s about God’s love in each of us. Even her murderer. If you’d like to read it, here you go: https://forgivingconnects.com/2017/08/04/todays-forgiving-fridays-endless-compassion/

    Sending you love. About to go on a “offline” (yes!) retreat on peace with MSIA Spiritual Founder, John-Roger.
    Blessings and again, happy bday! Debbie

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  3. I hope you had a great birthday. Birthdays are always special, celebrating a life.What a great day!
    Thanks,
    Robert

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  5. Happy Birthday!!! Thank you for taking us, your readers, on this journey with you! What a beautiful glimpse of God you shared! Made me cry and inspired me to see the world around me with some fresh eyes today!

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  7. Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had such a wonderful day. And how cool is that about your history singing in a Latin band.

    And you’re right about finding God in people like the man you described. This is how Jesus saw people, connecting with them, and endearing them to His heavenly Father.
    Blessings.

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  8. I always love reading your blogs! Happy Birthday Gurly!!!! or belated rather…lol. You’re so right, I think we’re all at fault for judging the outward and not the heart of a person. I’m guilty as charged of it. But when you’re able to take notice of it, then we can change and see things totally different. I posted a post today on my FB page that said “Advice ToMyFutureSelf: Be known as the girl who sees the best in people, not the one with the pretty eye makeup.” This week on the page I’m talking about Self-Reflection, so I understand where you’re coming from. I loved the song too. Have a Wonderful Day my Friend! I wish you many more Birthdays and Self-Discoveries…xoxo

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  11. Happy, Happy, Birthday, to YOU!!!!! How our eyes love to view the outside. It reminds me of what Mother Teresa said, “We must see Jesus in everyone.” You know there was a man in the gutter who was dying and maggot infested. She took him and cleaned him up. Put on him fresh clothes and gave him food and drink. Can you imagine a “maggot infested human being?” As he was dying he told her, “As I die I am looking at the face of an angel.” That is probably what that dear man was saying about you. That is what “joy” is, when we see a face of an angel on everyone. Again Happy Birthday. You know I love ya! God Bless, SR

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  12. First – HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

    Fun stuff. You got to do a cultural exchange. And it sounds like that’s what it was – 2 ways. I don’t know the Latin hits but you have an instant “in” with people since you do. That must be very fun but it’s also really powerful.

    A dental proverb – Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away.

    Actually they’ll turn some disgusting colors, smell horribly, then go away causing great pain in doing so. I remember a friend who only had one brown tooth left, one of his top incisors (front narrow teeth). I had only met him a few years before our ways parted, but I remember some of his friends from childhood saying “Remember when he had 2 teeth? Then the other one fell out?” and they laughed him to shame although he wasn’t present.

    Teeth are prominent; and they tell a story. Thank you for hearing that man’s story with compassion instead of revulsion. You were (and are) in that God’s hand extended. Loving the unlovely. You teach us all.

    -John

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  13. Wow…this is one of the most uplifting articles I have read. And literally, I had a similar experience but missed God in moment (sad). Thank you for writing and thank you above all for continually reading my posts. One more thing – HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANA! FOR THIS YEAR, I WISH YOU NOTHING SHORT OF LOVE, LIFE, LAUGHTER, GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY. MAY OPPORTUNITIES STREAM TO YOU AS A RIVER FLOWING FREE AND MAY YOU HAVE A SUPERB LIFE MOVING FORWARD. May Our Lord and Savior bless you, keep you, and give you peace. Amen!

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  16. Awesome and wonderful eventful lovely day you have shared with us. That truly was an amazing time with your day being packaged with a bundle of blessings all that time for you; a fun gift from God. I truly appreciate that you have shared this testimony with us. 🙂 Your testimony is a prime example of how God’s blessings can happen in life. There are infinite and countless of ways that God didn’t have to make things happen in a specific kind of way. Example: From you hearing your favorite melody play to the random guy that enjoyed dancing with you, and so on. If he was smiling and having fun also, yes, I agree with you. It could’ve only been God who could make the most awesome days be THAT much brighter. 🙂

    This makes me recall a moment that happened for my grandmother’s 70th birthday. She wanted to go to the casino and just enjoy her day and have a good time. We all have, but not more than my grandmother had. Not only did she receive a birthday gift from the casino, but whatever song the band on stage nearby was singing and playing, my grandmother was dancing and she even danced with a guy that just so happened to be entering into the casino with his family. We, my mother and I, told the family how old she turned that day and we were surprised to see he, too, didn’t mind dancing with her for the few seconds of time. 🙂

    Great to hear that you enjoyed your outing and your blessed Gift from God that was full of events, laughter, and many, many, SMILES! 🙂 There’s no telling what else He has in store for you in your future, friend. 🙂

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  19. This was a GREAT read!! I’m still learning about how all this works as I am only a few days in! I’d rather someone tell me I was the naked dancing halftime entertainment at the super bowl than write a blog. One thing i do know is seeing how successful you are and reading this blog post how talented you are at written communication, I’m rediculously humbled that you took your valuable time to read and like my “date her forever” blog. Sincerely, THANK YOU, I needed that!!

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      1. If you so desire, follow along with us, my wife will be writing some as well and she is WAY better than me at this! Also I can’t get to like 5 followers LOL 😂😂 Anyhow, thanks again!! I’ll be following along with you!

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  23. Happy belated birthday! Great post. If we all realized that the Lord is in us all we’d have a much better world. We all struggle with ouside packaging.

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  26. What a beautiful encounter (:
    I find the more I know Love, the more I experience Love and allow Love to be alive in me–the more I know the value in Father’s work…. the more I see His face in his children. There’s a beautiful song by Nic and Rachael Billman called Fathers Eyes and it’s so simple and so profound, the final chorus goes, “I look like my Papa; I look like my Papa…” it breaks me apart just thinking about it again because it’s one thing to see Papa in people, it’s a whole ‘nother thing to see Papa in this old peice of work..
    All I want to do is see Papa in you, to see Papa in people–to see Papa in his people, in his children. And to hold up a mirror and say “You look like your Papa.”

    (Gee whirlackers where did that come from? I’m making myself all choked up up on your comments section)

    Happy Wednesday, Caralyn! I’d wish you a happy and blessed new year but I know Papa’s already got you covered on that one (:

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    1. Thanks so much Carson! 🙂 That’s so true – love multiplies. it’s so beautiful. I’ll have to check that song out. it sounds pretty powerful! awwww thanks again Carson. have an awesome day! Hugs and love xox

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  27. Sounds like your birthday was a culturally diverse blessing. Thanks for the reminder to look beyond the exterior and into the windows of the soul. Possibly you were dancing with Jesus.

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  28. Yes, it would be so nice if most people saw each other as God truly sees us. God knows our hearts and doesn’t judge us by our appearances. The heart ❤️ is what is so deceitful. Great post!

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  31. I heard one time that there is a law against saying that you don’t speak Spanish while also having been lead singer of a Spanish-language band. I heard that somewhere. Was it my mother? No. My father? No. My sister? No. My dog? No. My teacher? No. The prophets? No. Oh, I remember. It was the aliens!!! No…

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  35. God Bless you so for going where you went!!! OK now I know I’m talking wayyyyyyyy out, but next year (June or July whenever it ends up), I would LOVE to show you the places I love to go in El Barrio for food and the music I buy. I know thats so far off!! Its wonderful you went up there. I just hope they can survive. There is so much gentrification of neighborhoods losing their vibe going on, its ridiculous. Its all becoming Starbucks and Dunkin and other chains, CHAINS THAT IN MANY CASES NYC DIDN’T USED TO HAVE OR NEED!! Yes NYC had the big stores (Macy’s, Saks, Lord/Taylor) but those stores “branched out” to the burbs. Now you have burb chains coming in and taking over the buildings that once held so many of the indy businesses that NYC was unique for. The song “Lullaby of Broadway” talks about going to Maxy’s and etc.. for latenight drinks etc.. The Maxy’s and all celebrated in that song are disappearing. You live in NYC trying as many have for decades, to make it and are trying to experience the city. Many now are coming, whose “mommies and daddies are loaded”, who bought them their trendy little lofts in places where its not $$$$$ and trendy to live (Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, The Village, Bronx, Brooklyn, etc..) and wanting NOTHING to do with the culture or the vibe. They complain to city leaders if a place has their music up too high during the day outside their store, because they want it like the burbs, with no vibe and the same ol same ol as they knew it where they came from. I’m not saying NYC should go back to days of crummy crimey horrible neighborhood conditions (in so many of those) but there should be a balance. OK, enough from me. I love that you went where you went and that you loved it all!! Next year!! Even if you bring a friend, or if theres a sig other in your life by then, bring them along!! xoxoxoxo

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    1. Thanks Miguel! yeah, it’s so sad how those iconically new york institutions are quickly being bought out and driven out of there! I nearly cried when FAO schwartz closed. And gosh, what a kind offer! that would be so fun if I’m still here! big hugs to you friend xox

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      1. Yes, I remember going there on my 1st trip to NYC when I was 12 in 1981. Back then NYC was different. It was a city of business, and many people of many cultures. Tourism was there but it was different. Things were more rugged. Those who DID bring their kids to NYC took them to certain places, like FAO or to the top of The Empire State, or Macy’s/Gimballs etc. They took the Circle Line that went all the way around Manhattan. Now even going to a Yankee game is more dominated by the tourists. Real NYers don’t hardly go, but to Mets or Brooklyn Cyclones etc.. YES, LETS KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR NEXT YEAR!!! TOTALLY!!! XOXOXO

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  38. I have a number of similar stories–unexpected encounters with the beauty of humanity beneath the surface–and yet I still forget (daily!) those lessons. Thanks for sharing!

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  42. This post really hits the spot! I had a very similar moment in Costa Rica to the tune of “Suave” merengue. So joyous, so spontaneous, so beautiful. I hope you have more moments like this one in the future.

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  44. Great post! I love that music is a universal language that we can all share, and I totally agree with you about overlooking the things that matter by being too involved in details and our phones etc. I’m guilty of the same thing!

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  46. You NEVER cease to amaze me lady! Happy birthday!!

    Seriously though?? an uppity/cross-fit/health nut/vegan place ??? I am glad you did something MUCH more fun than that!!! (Just kidding, glad it was a great day!)

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  49. Happy Birthday! I’ve enjoyed following your blog. I can relate with so much of your writing, because I had an ed when I was a teen/young adult. That’s why I noticed your blog at first, but I love your candidness when you write! I always pray for certain people when the Lord brings them to my heart, and you’re one of them! 💕

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    1. Aw thanks Valeria! I’m so sorry that we have that in our pasts that connect us, but I’m so glad that we’re both living in freedom! Thank you for your prayers. I means the world 🙂 Hugs and love xox

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