Could I pass off as Lawrence of Arabia? Perhaps, if I had blue eyes and was a tiny bit younger …? No, a lot younger!

I found this headgear as I was decluttering the belly dancing drawer. Well, yes, I used to belly dance. No, not in night clubs, but with nice suburban ladies, young and not so young, at Mosman Evening College in the 90s. I was in my fifties, and the oldest dancer was 80! I was going to be like her. I too would dance in my eighties, I thought.

Belly dancing was a new craze then in Sydney, which seems to have gone out of fashion, sadly. Zumba is all the rage now.

But to come back to the Lawrence of Arabia headgear. I have no idea how it got into my possession. Someone who knew I had a penchant for dressing up and clowning must have given it to me. But who? It bugs me I can’t remember. I assume there will be more of “can’t remember” moments as I get on with the decluttering.

And to go back to decluttering, my intention was to drastically clean out that drawer. Well, I threw out a few items but kept 95% of belly dancing paraphernalia plus the Lawrence of Arabia headgear.

Will I ever belly dance again? Frankly, I don’t think so. And yet I can’t part with the beautiful coin belts that shimmer and make a thousand soft clinking sounds as you shimmy along, the bright coloured shawls that flutter like butterflies, the harem pants, the flowing skirts, and fake jewellery turning us into exotic princesses. They are memories of good times. Very good times.

One day, I just might try and see if I can still shimmy a bit… to hear those soft clinking sounds again. 🙂

©September 2019 Irina Dimitric