I didn’t see this one coming, I must admit. The USPS announced last week that it is kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with some Latino-themed postage stamps. As I always say, a celebration is just not a celebration without a postage stamp!

The series, called “Let’s Dance”/Bailamos” features stamps celebrating Salsa, Cha-cha-cha, Mambo and Merengue. Amusing are the US Postal Service’s descriptions of the various dances; for instance, that of Mambo: “known for its up-tempo beat, fast footwork and sensuous body language…”

Notably absent: any sort of Mexican dance. Nope, the Mexican dances just aren’t crowd-pleasers eventually taken up by Anglos in classes at the Y. I guess there is no “sensuous body language” to be found in the Huapango, La Bamba, or La Quebradita…only glasses of water on one’s head or huge cowboy hats. No mass appeal, no stamp.