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