An Inane Question From Metro

When was the last time you heard someone whistling as they walked down the street?

It seems to me that we've gotten too serious, too cool. Even kids no longer bowl along the avenues swinging their arms and bellowing at the tops of their lungs. And we did. It's not something I dream was true but isn't.

Now I see people walking up the street listening on their 'pods to music no-one else can hear, and not sharing it. When we are tempted to bob our heads or do a funky strut we seem overcome with shyness. So we walk stiff.

Today as I walked into town with my own Yepp popping and snapping David Wilcox in my ears, I found myself warbling along. It's reasonably safe from embarrassment--the streets are cold and the hour is early. But it was fun.

So today perhaps you should sing a little, cut a groove on the sidewalk, doubleback and jive, ignoring the stares if any of strangers on the street. And if they stare, remember that part of it will be raw envy.

Now all of you people,
when I say 'jump',
I want you to jump in the air.

I want you to jump in the air,
and stay there.

--David Wilcox, Rockin' the Boogie