How do you spell that?

TikTok. How do you spell that? I heard all about how another country would capture our data. They would use it to do the unknown. The unknown is the scariest.

I like to write as a practice of the craft. Writing, I had set it aside some years ago. I like to challenge myself into learning new words, ideas, concepts and in this case an APP, also known to me as an application. I did attend school to achieve a degree in computer science. It has served me well, it is rewarding, but I did not know the TikTok. I stayed away from it. I have no need for it. I do not have the time nor the audience.

I took to the challenge and a little peek at the application. I did not dig deep. I am like a bird, just show me something Shiny. I am like a puppy so easily distracted. It took less than a tik or a tok. Less than a minute to land on an image that was curious to me. I explored. I watched the whole thing because it kept my attention.

It is because I like to dance and like to sing that I decided to explore those videos. I like to see people dancing and singing. I like to live and enjoy watching people come alive. That is what I got when I found it. I found that TikTok that is worthy of a share and a like, I have Facebook and Instagram, so I understand the social media, but this is new.

First, I love this song, and I absolutely find myself engaged in every limber move that is made in this rendition of the dance. The move where he emulates that movements of the horse and rider is just amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If this has not gone viral, it certainly should.

The dance is staged on the dirt in a corral. The kind where a horse is trained. I imagine the smell and the likelihood of horse manure under his feet. I wonder if it is dampened with urine. The dirt appears to be deep and the dancer is wearing big Rubber wading boots. I wonder if he will slip and fall, his boots may be made of Rubber. It appears to be a work-out and the dancer winded near the end. I can only wonder what the temperature is on this day. The dancer wears an abundance of clothing, that which I would expect as the costume of an Amish. The person is not recognized since he bearded.

The crowd cheers excited by the dance, captured by the skill, the fluidity and form. The dancer continues through the song surprising the audience with kicks and squats. He likens a soldier of the Russian army; straw hat makes it clear that this is shot somewhere on a horse farm where the living is slow and the entertain is simple.

He does not slip. He never falls. He leads in grace and I am satisfied with the entertainment. I questioned myself, had I arrived at the place where entertain was at the expense of another. How simple and pure this moment was and why was it I desired to see the roll in the mud. It is the face paced urban living that I am jaded from. Years of shock entertainment that I am without sensation.

I felt a sense of renewal when I finished this video. I had to play it a few more times to decide what drew me to it. I soon became aware that the dancer likens my recently deceased friend. My friend and I had been walking on the boardwalk in NOLA when a song began to play that thanks the friend for “letting me be myself again.” We danced in the street that day in 2015. I smile and imagine he is sending TikTok’s from heaven. I thank him for letting me be myself always.