Blueberry Festival photo by radtec (Flickr)
Small towns in Texas, and probably everywhere else in America, know how to throw a party. Smoke from barbecue pits spice the air with beef, pork, chicken, sausage, and frequently veggies like onions and corn. Vendors sell a variety of handmade, homegrown doodads and whatnots from canvas-shaded booths. People race marathons for this year’s bragging rights. Shaded domino tables host fiercely competitive games. Music thunders from platforms slapped together out of scrap lumber. Lemonade sells by the gallons.
America, Rockwell style. Gotta love it.
For many small towns, the best time comes when the sun sets. The main drag is barricaded to outsiders, the road is cleaned as much as possible, the band is rehydrated and retuned. Then it begins. The street dance.
In my day, it was the Texas two-step, polka, schottische, waltz. Now they boot-scoot to the newest line dances. But one kind of dance has never changed: the buckle polisher. Soft, slow music. Your sweetie holding you under the stars. Swaying together so close it’s hard to tell where one of you ends and the other begins–which is why they’re called buckle polishers.
I have a street dance scene in my novel. The music is from my all-time favorite line dance–and probably one of the originals:
Where did you come from?
Where did you go?
Where did you come from . . .
If you know the last line, you know the name of the song. Leave a comment with the title, and I’ll send the winner of this week’s drawing a country-style reminder of a simple truth.
Several years into it, and this blog still refuses to be categorized. It's eclectic and includes everything from writing posts to snippets from my ordinary life. 
Linda W. Yezak 
Hey Linda, I really can’t wait for your book and being a fiddle player I had better know that the song is Cotton Eye Joe.
LikeLike
I think it’s cool that you’re a fiddle player. You know what the song says: “If you wanna play in Texas. . . ” 😀
LikeLike
Cotton Eye Joe! 🙂
LikeLike
Looks like my questions are too easy! You both got it right. Thanks for participating!
LikeLike
Hi City-bred Country Girl – I’ve no idea what the last line is, but I’ll take a wild guess at “I’d like to know.” Cool post. I love little town celebrations. (My son would love to move to Nacogdoches, if he could just get a transfer.)
LikeLike
Now I feel dumb. Oh well, I told you I was city-bred. And being “so young” I haven’t had time to learn all those country songs. 🙂
LikeLike
You are so funny, Lynne! If you don’t know this one, you’re *far* more citified than I am!!!
😀
LikeLike
*Love* that song. One of the best dancing songs ever. I put it on a kitchen mix CD, which probably wasn’t such a great idea, since I end up wanting to jig around the kitchen instead of washing dishes. :p
LikeLike
I can imagine you two-stepping across your kitchen!
LikeLike
Cotton-eyed Joe!
LikeLike
Yes ma’am!
LikeLike
Love that tune! My feet are dancing as I sing it in my head!
LikeLike
I love it too. Have to admit, I miss dancing and especially miss dancing to that song!
LikeLike