Appalachian Word of the Week -- CUT A SHINE

How many of you know how to CUT A SHINE? Do you know what it means?

My mom loved to CUT A SHINE. Unfortunately, my dad did not. She often told me stories of when she was younger, before she met my dad, and she and her girlfriends spent the weekend going to parties so they could CUT A SHINE.

There are all kinds of dances. My mom favored the jitterbug. I recall the days of The Twist and The Mashed Potato. I've lost touch with how the younger set CUTS A SHINE these days. Most of them look like all they need to do to CUT A SHINE is to gyrate to loud noise in between drinking and texting on their cell phones.

Fortunately, you don't have to have a partner to CUT A SHINE. Unless, of course, you're square dancing or doing one of the classic dances, such as the Tango. It takes two to Tango, you remember.

CUT A SHINE

I'm not able to CUT A SHINE these days with my arthritis. I miss it. There are times when I would love nothing more than to do a happy dance. I have figured out how to CUT A SHINE by doing a happy dance in my office chair. I can spin and flail my arms happily without falling on my face or having to call my chiropractor. There's always something to do a happy dance about if you look hard enough.

When my mom moved into her own apartment after my dad went into a nursing home, she had several opportunities to CUT A SHINE at events sponsored by her senior center. She loved it. It brought life back into her days.

Mom's last earthly chance to CUT A SHINE

She even CUT A SHINE a couple of weeks before her death. I'm glad she went happy.

I can see her in heaven getting to CUT A SHINE around the throne of Jesus. I'm sure she has found a few hairy-faced young men in the group to be her partner, too. 

Do you CUT A SHINE? What's your favorite dance?

Tweetables:

Appalachian Word of the Week - CUT A SHINE (Click to Tweet)

Are you ready to CUT A SHINE? (Click to Tweet)