A fixture from my childhood is the show "Soul Train." It was on every Saturday in the afternoon and I used to watch it. I was not a devotee - nor was anyone else in the family, but the dancing and the funkified outfits (this WAS the seventies if you don't know) provided great entertainment. Another reason I watched it was because kids talked about it at school. As I write this, I realize that even to this day I will watch something because I know others will be talking about it. I am not sure if that means that I am a blind follower or if I know how to connect to others. Possibly some combination of both. Anyway, kids at school would talk about the dancers, the music guests, and of course Don Cornelius, so that is how I ended up watching Soul Train on Saturdays.
The first week that I lived here in Chicago was beyond surreal. I just could not believe that I had actually moved. Every day was more amazing to me than the previous one. I think what shocked me the most was how familiar everything was. The thick green grass. The friendly neighbors. The bar on the corner with the "Old Style" sign. Everything was new but I had seen it all before.
So, my first Saturday in Chicago I popped onto the couch to watch a bit of TV. I turned on the TV and started flipping channels. Next thing you know I was watching "Soul Train." I cannot tell you what a mindblow this was. I started really questioning my sanity and wondering if I was in some super realistic-seeming dream. How could Soul Train still be on TV?
The more I watched the more I realized that it was a re-run. I figured it out by studying Don's hair (jehri curls) the outfits (big shoulder pads) and perhaps the way they danced. I forget who the guest was, but I remember thinking that he was kind of an 80's guy too.
Oh my. Since that time I have happened upon the TV on other Saturdays and seen another golden oldie rerun of Soul Train. So much fun.
"...We wish you love, peace... and SOUL!"
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