Ooh
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen (ABBA)

Today’s slice is brought to you by the 6th-grade girls in the room next door who were spending their lunch recess with their homeroom teacher. All of a sudden the above lyrics came boldly ringing through the mid-day air bringing a smile to my face as well as a question to my mind. Why were they singing ABBA, and why did they know all the lyrics?

This song was released in 1976, the year I graduated from high school. I was NEVER a dancing queen, just ask my family, but I did enjoy dancing (complete with bell-bottomed pants and platform shoes) and imagining myself as that 17-year-old dancing queen. The movie, Mamma Mia!, based on the songs of the Swedish pop group, Abba, debuted in 2008 with a sequel in 2018. Apparently, there is a Mamma Mia tour happening in 2022. I have to admit that I always enjoy a trip down memory lane when I hear musical selections from those movies including: “Take a Chance on Me,” “SOS,” “Waterloo,” and of course “Mamma Mia!”

So this chance encounter with a blast-from-the-past would not have me concerned for the present generation of young people if it weren’t for the picture my daughter sent me earlier this week from The Hollywood Reporter.

Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed my teenage years in the 70s including bell-bottom pants, frayed jeans, midi skirts, maxi dresses, Tie-dye, peasant blouses, and ponchos. I had my share of Hippie accessories of chokers, headbands, scarves, and jewelry made of wood, stones, feathers, and beads. However, I am not sure I want to see the latest generation of teenagers in those “vintage” outfits. Been there. Done that. Don’t want to be reminded of just how old I am!