One of my favorite songs from the 50s is “Little Darlin” by the Diamonds. It rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1957.
One of the highlights of the song is the spoken interlude by the bass singer. He begins his pleading soliloquy to the girl of his dreams by saying, “My Darlin’ I need you,” and he finishes with an imploring, “Please…hold my hand.”
I picked that line up a long time ago and began using it around the house as a calling card. Every once in a while, I’ll go up to Brooks or Patty and say, “Please…hold my hand.”
Sometimes, I get my hand held, but most of the time I don’t…because, you know, once you make a joke of something like that, it tends to get old. Still, like I said, I do get indulged now and then.
And even though I wield the line half-jokingly sometimes, can we all agree on one this: Getting your hand held — held seriously — is a beautiful thing?
…This is a roundabout way of getting to an irresistible love story that was posted this week on The New York Times website. The story, written by John Leland, is titled “Too Much in Love to Say Goodnight.”
It’s about a 27-year-old man named Caleb Wiese and a 24-year-old woman named Katherine McClintic — both New Yorkers — who got acquainted through their mutual love of swing dancing. For many months they were just dance partners, shaking hands and saying “thank you” after songs.
But as they became more frequent dance partners, going to and from dance venues together, ol’ Cupid was doing his thing.
McClintic said Wiese’s first romantic overture came in the middle of a song, when he was looking at her, stopped and said, “I need to talk to you.”
And what he said was simply, “I like you.”
Somewhere around that time, after a night of dancing, Wiese took her hand and held it while they rode the subway toward their respective residences.
McClintic’s reaction?
“I started freaking out. It was very nice, and I was enjoying it a lot, but it was like, well, I don’t know what to do about this. Just the hand-holding. It was very old school.”
Caleb Wiese and Katherine McClintic (center) engaging in what led them to romance.
Now, the couple is engaged, and, according to The Times story, they’re getting married today…For the reception, naturally, a swing band will be performing, and some swing-dance friends will be giving lessons to the uninitiated.
So, back to where I started…
Never underestimate the power of holding hands. Sometimes, it can just carry you away, as if you’re dancing on a cloud.
Now, here’s that song.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
La la la la la la …
They “shore” don’t make ’em like they used to.
How about the “ai-ya-yi-yai-yai” ? That’s one of the best parts.
That, too.
What a sweet story in the Times. Their courtship sounds very old-fashioned for the times. I do like the use of Mr. and Ms.; it especially seems to go with the gentility of the story. Think we discussed that use here one time.
The old-fashioned aspect of their romance is very much a part of it…How can you resist a story where the seminal moment is the boy taking hold of the girl’s hand and she starts “freaking out”?
Yes, we discussed The Times’ use of courtesy titles, and I don’t particularly care for it in general. In this case, however, it works…But I think it would be even better if the writer had just called them Caleb and Katherine.
(What are you doing up so early, Gayle?)
Was it early, or late? :-)
Your post reminded me of when I was a senior in high school. The principal had just imposed a no holding hands policy and getting it repealed was my “platform” when I ran for student council president. Somehow I won and miraculously persuaded the principal to rescind the policy, allowing me to hold hands between classes with a beautiful girl named Judy. We got married our sophomore year in college and, miraculously, are still together 44 years later. But it all started with holding hands…
Bill Dalton
Well done, Bill…It was clear from that high-school campaign that you were cut out for leadership — which you exercised adroitly and diplomatically as an editor at The Star. Congratulations to you and Judy on 44 years…but it is hardly miraculous.
Jim:
Lovely column. Response, too.
Thanks,
Laura
Thanks, Laura…Yes, this one seems to have struck a tender chord.
Gayle: Good point on early vs. late…I’m not in a position to speculate and shouldn’t.
Kind of reminds me of the song All Er Nothin’ in the musical “Oklahoma!” when Ado Annie sings to her beau Will Parker, “And go right off to sleep, if you’re sleepy, there’s no use waitin’ up fer me.”
“Nuthins’ what you’ll git from me!”
Little Darlin is # 1…really nothing like it or comparable…in a class by itself…