“Grease is the World”

So… my niece Madison (who is 11 going on 21) has been staying with us all week as a sort of mother’s helper to Finley (now age 6 ½ months). I hadn’t ever really spent this much time with her without her mother (my sister) and it was a little awkward at first. We spent some time dancing around each other, trying to find some common ground to stand on besides family. That common ground came last night in the form of the movie “Grease.” Yes, the 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

I was seven when “Grease” came out, but I remember its impact. EVERYONE dressed as Sandy or a Pink Lady for Halloween that year. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know the hand motions to “Greased Lightning” or the boy/girl parts to “Summer Nights.” I knew that Madison had gotten the movie and the soundtrack for her Confirmation earlier this year, but I didn’t realize the movie was such a hit with Generation… (what letter are we on? Z?)

Last night I was doing work (for a certain wonderful company and according to company policy I was drinking a glass of wine while I did this work) when Madison remembered that “Grease” was on. She was so excited – the most I’d seen her all week – it was like having a different kid around. Once the movie was on, she was bummed because we caught it right at the end of “Greased Lightnin’” and she couldn’t do the dance (to which she knew all the moves.) Then we took turns singing lead and backup on “Beauty School Dropout.” It was so fun! We were bonding! Then she asked me if I knew the “Hand-Jive.” Do I know the “Hand-Jive”? I told her I could Jive circles around her. When she got up and followed Danny and Sandy’s dance that they do for the dance off, I was so proud. And when Sha Na-Na sang “Hound Dog” at the school dance I quizzed her on who sang it first. She replied, “Elvis!” That’s my girl.

At the end of the movie as the credits rolled, she started singing what she thought were the words to the theme song. “Grease is the world!” she sang at the top of her lungs. Um, excuse me little girl, “Grease is the WORD” not the WORLD. She rolled her eyes at me and said, “World, word – same thing.” Tell that to Frankie Valli ,I said. Then my charming husband chimed in with “Grease is the WORM!” Good one honey…

On a side note, Madison has “Sweet Home Alabama” on her MP3 player because it’s her favorite movie. I asked her if it was the Lynyrd Skynyrd version and she knew what I was talking about. Another proud moment. And the gap between niece and aunt grows smaller.