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Talk of Takoma • by Howard Kohn
Oldies dance triggers cascading flashbacks
Eric Sepler may be the man responsible for communal trippy experience
Photo: Eric Bond
The Oldies Dance was marked on Eric Sepler’s calendar at his Kinetic Artistry office. “It’s something I look forward to every year,” he said, pointing a customer to the notations he had made for the date, the evening of October 20. “But not this year.” He held up a heavily bandaged hand.
About three weeks earlier, as Eric reached to pick up something off the floor his hand was nipped by a pet terrier he had inherited this summer from his sister. Although the bite drew blood, he figured it was one of those wounds to shrug off. But infection set in, and an abscess formed. “It swelled up like you wouldn’t believe.” He saw a doctor who ordered surgery. Eric spent a day and a night in a hospital.
“It still hurts,” he said to the customer, who had arrived at Kinetic Artistry to pick up a fog machine, a couple of oscillators and other gear for a hippie-style light show at the dance, an annual fundraiser for the Takoma Foundation.
“I wish I could be there to set up, but my hand is useless.”
“Not a problem. I’m sure we can figure it out.”
On the day of the dance at the Presbyterian Church gym, however, the Foundation members who had volunteered to sub for Eric were less confident. “This looks way complicated. Does anyone have Eric’s cell number?”
“No.”
Then – serendipity – Eric called. “I’m thinking of coming over. I can still use one hand.”
Within an hour of his arrival psychedelic images were flashing on the gym walls and mist was rising from the fog machine.
“I love doing this show!”
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