Dervishing Whirls

tarantism (TAR-uhn-tiz-uhm) noun

An uncontrollable urge to dance.

[After Taranto, a town in southern Italy where this phenomenon was experienced during the 15-17th centuries. It's not clear whether tarantism was the symptom of a spider's bite or its cure, or it may have been just a pretext to dodge a prohibition against dancing. The names of the dance tarantella and the spider tarantula are both derived from the same place.]

Is it wrong that this happens to me in the produce section of my local organic grocery store? Just the other day I found myself jiving to Sting whilst sifting through the haricot vert, and shuffling to some reggae while sampling the last of the pixie tangerines. Given the crunchy-granola-earthy types that hang out there, punctuated with the occasional yuppie-upper crusty-starchy types slinking about guiltily with clueless expressions , I don't think anyone either cared or noticed that I gayly torque and twist my way through the tortuous paths. Somehow I am joyful when I go to my grocery. The mere act of procuring organics for myself and the animules is one of my small pleasures, my small modicums of control in a world of terrorism, injustice, ignorance and just plain ol' mean spiritedness.

Extend that to my little dream, eventually one might find me hustling through a small garden all natural and wiggly; weeding, picking, gazing lovingly at 'maters on the vine, my own haricot vert on the string, and perhaps some squush reposing about waiting for a lovely braise with some butter. Envision livestock and poultry fat and happy living off my little parcel of land and a chipper house in harmony with its environs. Idyllic, no? To me, yes. Not to all. Maybe I kid myself with the simplicity, as it is complexity that can really turn me on and stoke my internal furnace. However at the end of the day, it is Clyde's warm feathers against my hand, Chauncey's little furry body pressed into my armpit, the sweet smell of aired sheets, a quiet evening on the patio, a well-made meal, and conversation with loved ones that keep the flames burning.