| After 25 years of marriage many things change, things | | | | “We used to go swinging almost every week in |
| that let you know you’re getting older. | | | | college,” Mary explained. “In fact we were |
| They’re especially aging when they catch you | | | | considered the best, but we haven’t been for |
| by surprise. Most shocking is when a word or symbol | | | | years.” |
| you’ve used all your life suddenly means | | | | “Well, maybe you’ll learn something new |
| something else. Swinging couples is a good example | | | | tonight,” Troy said with an unexplainably revolting |
| of this. | | | | tone. |
| Swinging couples used mean a lively night out dancing. | | | | Just then, a young woman with long dark hair called |
| My wife and I were one of the best swinging couples | | | | for our attention. |
| around. Now swinging couples can mean something | | | | “Hello, everyone, my name is Kaily,” She |
| dangerously different. When you’re planning | | | | announced. “Welcome to our swinging couples |
| your 25th anniversary, ask one of your kids to look | | | | retreat.” |
| over your shoulder to make sure you’re not | | | | Many of the guests cheered enthusiastically. |
| making a huge mistake. | | | | “Now that you’ve all had a chance to |
| It was a month until our 25th wedding anniversary. I | | | | mingle with all the other guests,” she continued, |
| was trying to find something that would make the | | | | “let’s begin the key party. Gentlemen, |
| occasion memorable. Then I found an advertisement | | | | please bring up your room keys.” |
| for a swinging couples retreat. My wife, Mary, and I | | | | “What is a key party?” Mary whispered |
| loved to swing dance when we first got married, but | | | | to me. But I didn’t know. |
| we hadn’t been dancing for quite a few years | | | | “Excuse me.” I said, addressing the couple |
| now. Still, I imagined it would willingly come back to us | | | | we had been talking with. “What is a key party |
| when we got out on the floor. And the ad said new | | | | and what do they want with my room key?” |
| swinging couples were welcome. If needed, we could | | | | “You’ve never been to a key party |
| take a lesson or two to remind us. I thought a swinging | | | | before?” Dianne asked, surprised. “Well |
| couples retreat would make a perfect way to | | | | the first time is always the most exciting. A key party |
| commemorate our 25 years together. | | | | is where swinging couples split up and the woman |
| After an elegant dinner, Mary and I drove to the hotel | | | | picks a random room key. Then she spends the night |
| where the swinging couples retreat was being held. All | | | | with the man who left that key.” |
| Mary knew before we arrived was that we needed | | | | Mary gasped loud enough that every swinging couple |
| to be well dressed. | | | | in our corner of the room turned and looked. |
| She responded as I had hoped she would when we | | | | “Thank you,” I said as I gripped my |
| arrived at the hotel and I revealed the surprise. | | | | wife’s hand. “Mary, let’s go.” |
| “Swing dancing! What a romantic idea, | | | | I didn’t look to see the reaction of the other |
| Leonard,” she beamed. “But what if we | | | | guests. |
| can’t remember the steps?” | | | | We drove for the next hour trying to wrap our minds |
| I assured her we would remember. We checked in at | | | | around what had just happened. Eventually, our disgust |
| the front desk and she took my arm as we walked to | | | | turned to humor and relief that we were far away |
| the ballroom. | | | | from our swinging couples retreat. Still, I couldn’t |
| I was surprised to see how young many of the | | | | let our 25 th anniversary end like that. |
| swinging couples were. I hadn’t realized swing | | | | I pulled over at a small beach where we could be |
| dancing had become some popular with younger | | | | alone. I helped Mary out of the car and we began to |
| crowds. | | | | swing dance in the sand. We danced until the sun |
| We took some hor d’oerves and mingled as | | | | went down. |
| we waited for the dancing to begin. | | | | In 25 years the world has changed around Mary and |
| Many of the other swinging couples were very friendly. | | | | me. We are part of another time and we are old. But |
| There must be an open bar, I remember thinking, | | | | since our swinging couples experience, we don’t |
| because some were quite friendly. | | | | feel a need to fight that anymore. We’re happy |
| We began a conversation with another couple nearby. | | | | with the world we fell in love in and happy to part with |
| Troy and Dianne were their names. | | | | the one that has tried to redefine our language of love. |
| “So how long have you been swinging?” | | | | We are still a swinging couple. In fact, we swing every |
| Troy asked. | | | | week now and we are more in love than ever. |