At any rate, a young Courtney Calkins (age 7 or 8?) wanted to sing during the "talent show" part of the festivities, but was feeling sort of shy. Someone- possibly her mom, Camil- came up with the bright idea that if some the men in her life danced behind her, it would help. In grass skirts. And maybe coconut bras (I don't recall that part for sure). More likely the whole thing was a plot to trick us softies into dancing like hula girls. If so, we fell for it hook like, and sinker.
Court's uncle Mario, her (adoptive) uncle Miles, George Castillo, and Darrell Childers all donned our costumes and made up hula-like moves (we hoped) behind her on stage, framed by tiny Christmas lights, while Courtney sang, "All I want for Christmas is a hippopotamus".
The stage was crowded; we bumped into one another (sometimes in ways probably not appropriate for church, but there was no *intentional* groping or doing the bump). Near the end of the song, my skirt caught on a nail holding the lights, and ripped off.
Most of the applause was for Courtney, but I think the skirt got some, too.
(Yes, I was wearing pants beneath the skirt. This is Texas, not Hawaii.)
