There are times to cut loose and have fun

Cape Girardeau-area residents can be a deadly serious bunch.

It's probably the heavy German heritage. Anybody who has watched German television knows they are some serious folks, beer or no beer.

Or maybe it's all the Republicans. Somehow "conservative" and "chug-a-lug contest" don't belong in the same sentence.

Yes, I'm painting with a broad brush. After all, I'm German. If the name didn't give me away, the sturdy frame and child-bearing hips probably did. And our current Republican president cut loose in his younger years. I'm assuming his daughters are Republican, too, and we know the twins can get down.

So how do you explain Cape's apparent inability to toss away inhibitions and have a good time?

The rare exception: last month's Missouri State Harley Owners Group Rally. Those bikers did this city a world of good. Downtown was transformed the night of Sept. 8, when several thousand bikers, university students and curious onlookers came together on Main Street.

It looked -- and smelled -- like New Orleans on a weekend. Not during Mardi Gras, because I could actually move under my own power instead of being transported from one spot to another by the crowd. And I didn't see private parts of any kind being displayed.

But it was crowded, and people were having a good time. Some of the locals didn't have any interest in Harley-Davidsons at all -- they were just using the event as an excuse to break out clothing they'd never have the nerve to wear if there weren't 3,000 male and female bikers in town and only about five brassiere among them.

Even I considered wearing a black tank top with nothing underneath -- apparently the preferred garb of biker chicks -- but then I realized I'd have to live in this town long after our fun-loving friends returned to various parts of the state.

When the rally left, so did the downtown street parties.

And then we had another crack at letting our collective hair down last weekend at the City of Roses Music Festival.

I rushed out of the office and down to the riverfront Friday night for the headliner, and I wasn't leaving without hearing Eddie Money sing "Shakin'." (Stop laughing. You other 80's teens know you crank up the stereo, roll down the car windows and belt it out.)

He said goodbye and left the stage. No "Shakin'." One encore. No "Shakin'."

I turned around, and only about a fifth of the sizable crowd was standing. I could see I was in serious danger of stalking Mr. Money to his tour bus and demand he sing the song a cappella.

So I did what I've seen football players doing to crowds at Southeast games -- they wave their arms in an up-and-down motion until people stand and applaud.

But waving my arms threw me off balance and caused me to stumble downhill toward the river and a group of drunk females unencumbered by brassieres -- are you seeing a theme here? -- and wearing crop tops, although they'd obviously carried more than one child apiece, if you get my drift.

To the people who witnessed this embarrassment: I was not drunk. I didn't inhale. I was not with those women.

Nobody stood up then, but about half rose when the band did "Two Tickets to Paradise."

And, as the final encore, I got my "Shakin.'" The Other Half put his arm around me and held me tight -- not so much as a loving gesture but to keep me from shakin' too much. Mr. Half, like so many others at the event, hates drawing any sort of attention to himself. He's only half German and votes Libertarian, so go figure.

There are going to be more party-type events like this in the future, and Cape Girardeau needs to be prepared. We don't want to have the reputation of being a bunch of fuddy-duddies who would rather sit at home playing Life than living it.

So, fellow citizens, I have two words for you:

Get excited.

Heidi Hall is managing editor of the Southeast Missourian.