Beat IT! Flash Mob Style

Yesterday was a BIG day for me. A BIIIGGG day. Like Clifford the Big Red Dog big (seriously, how did that dog get so big? And why was no one TERRIFIED of him??) I did something yesterday that has needed to be done for months. If I'm being really honest, it needed to be done for years. Words were finally said, apologies made, closure. Slightly painful, yet completely necessary closure. And today I feel like I can breathe again.

THEN last night I got to check something off my bucket list. Something I have been wanting to do for YEARS, but never thought I would get the chance or have the courage to do. I was part of a flash mob. Yup. A flash mob. And it was the coolest thing I have ever done. Trent Dabbs (Nashville singer songwriter and founder of Ten Out of Tenn) decided for his birthday he wanted a flash mob. So that is exactly what he did. His wife sent out a fb event and news spread. I heard about it 2 days before the actual flash mob, but luckily I already semi knew the dance. They were doing Michael Jackson's Beat It and being the nerd I am I had already taken it upon myself to learn said dance. So I pulled up the tutorial video and practiced my little heart out.

Last night they had one final rehearsal with everyone, after an hour of trying to find the stupid building and almost giving up and going home (I probably would have cried if I had missed out on this) I finally found it, ran inside and danced little heart out.

Then it was time to head downtown. We all kind of trickled out and started walking in small groups (trying not to be suspicious). Once we got down town we positioned ourselves and tried to blend in as much as possible. There were 3 news stations there so they started to draw a crowd. People were asking us "what's going on?". One guy in the group answered "I think they are filming a movie down here or something" brilliant. Of course word had gotten around so people who knew about it were showing up and waiting for the show.

When 7 pm cop cars took their positions to block traffic, the music started and Trent walked to the middle of the street. He did some Michael Jackson moves and then the first round of people joined him. After round 1 the rest of us exploded from the crowd to join them. Guys, it. was. awesome! I couldn't believe I was doing it. I was dancing on downtown on Broadway on a friday night in Nashville, Tn. It was the most fun I have had in a long time.

I definitely wasn't perfect in my execution. I messed up at the end (of course the camera caught it, but hey so did Andy Davis and Trent Dabbs, so I feel better about it) and I was so nervous I didn't have as much swagger(ha) as I had while rehearsing. But none of that matters because I did it. I got over my fears and danced with about 100 people I had never met in the middle of the street. I can cross that off and forever say I have been a part of a flash mob. AHH! Ok here is a link to an article about it that also has the news video and then a video from a person watching. It's not the best quality, but it's the one I'm in so it will have to do. I'm in a blue and grey striped shirt with shorts and moccasins 0n. I walk right in front of the camera at the beginning then I am towards the back the rest of the time. So without further ado, here is my 1:30 of fame.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/14932695/flash-mob-takes-over-downtown-nashville-street