I Won’t Be DWTS

           I had signed up for a dance class in my junior year of high school.  It was not on my schedule of classes.  I still wanted to take the class and tried to transfer in.  Nada.  And then I got my report card.  They had me failing this class that I wanted to take but wasn’t taking.  Apparently my name was on the role.  I was so mad!

          The office had a different schedule than the one I had.  I had tried to transfer into the class and the instructor didn’t even recognize my name as her absentee student?  I was angry.  I let every faculty member know how I felt.  It was wrong!  Their failed system was not my fault. 

          Grade retracted.  I did not fail the class I hadn’t taken.  I still wanted the class . . . or so I believed.

          Almost 50 years later I am watching the talents of the pros on Dancing With the Stars and the need for two other dancers to join their team.  I am amazed at what their bodies can do as they learn and create routines and get thrown around and learn new steps and perform in such a short time.  Wow. 

          Start while you’re young.  Even before high school – which I did.  Mom had enrolled me in various dance classes but it is not something I pursued.  It was probably better for me in the long run to not have been part of the class.  I was on the skinny side and may have been one of the dancers that was thrown.  But it’s in the past.  It’s a forgotten desire.

          When I look at the dancers performing on Dancing With the Stars I am in awe.  What talent.  What creativity.  What excruciating hard work!  Probably why it is only on twice a year.  The dancers might need the four to six month rest.  How does that even work?  Do they get a break?  They are putting their bodies in jeopardy every bit as football players who land on each other or hockey players who may sometimes slide and fall or any other athlete of so many different sports.  Dancers are athletes in a sense as it is physically demanding and teamwork is very important.

          I think it’s a great opportunity for those who have that desire and ambition.  I don’t know that I would have had the desire.  I’m not competitive for one thing.  I do have a heart murmur which I’m guessing I’ve had since childhood and thus I do get easily wiped out just walking.  And to be able to dance in heels.  Forget that!

          I appreciate dancers.  I appreciate performers.  I enjoy the music and talents of those who play instruments and sing.  My talent doesn’t lie in singing either.  But I do like to sing and I do like to dance almost as much as I enjoy watching dances and listening to music.

Valentine’s Day

           We spent the majority of the day not home – and still outside when we got home.

          We left the house at 5:30 to drive to Medford and did back to back endowment sessions at the temple.  Left without stopping so that we could let Bonnie out of the house.  She is showing some major discomfort right now.  She has become almost as stubborn as the goats.

          After our return Don (a neighbor across street and corner) told us that the goats (although I think it was just Sugar and not Cocoa) escaped but he was able to corral  Sugar back to our yard and blocked the fence so she could not crawl beneath.  I found her trapped between two fences.   I don't know how long she'd been trapped. Serves her right, I guess.

          I should have probably left her there, for they found a small hole beyond the deernet and went into the vacant house next door (evidently they have better grass than we do) and so Richard had we walk around the corner to coral them back into our yard.  Neither one of us dressed appropriately for chasing goats or putting up fences.  Although I was not wearing my Sunday best, Richard was.

       (side not:  Richard and I had gone to the open house last week.  They want too much money - though the house was nice.  I would not mind living there - but not for 2,000 a month.  I think we're already overpaying with our mortgage as it is.)

          We finally got the goats back into our yard. 

          Finally ate some lunch (it was after two)

          Watched “Song Sung Blue” and then made our way to the Valentine’s Dance at the Stake Center.  Richard was definitely excited about taking me.

          Initially an activity for the singles, couples were invited.  They had a really nice spread of food – assortment of desserts, fruit and cheese displays.  I should have not taken any of it as food and dancing don’t mix well for my metabolism – plus the fact that I had been chasing goats.  I know we hadn’t been there for  a full hour before we left.  Richard said it looked like I was having fun.  Glad he thought that.

          Still not feeling well.  I’m dressed for church but will not be attending today.  Hopefully our yard is fully secure as I will not even attempt to chase the goats today.  I’m okay just sitting.  Standing is a problem right now.  Keep me near my own personal bathroom.  I guess I will take something to assist in the discomfort.

            Meanwhile a huge box of chocolates awaits me.  I don't think I will be eating any until March.

3 generations of '80's music

I graduated from high school in 1980- the same year that Rupert Holmes released his recording of “Him”.  I think think it must have been at college or perhaps it was at an institute dance when a live band played that Rupert Holmes song.  Many of us listened intently wondering how they would incorporate the lyrics “Over by the window is a pack of cigarettes” and laughed when they sang “a pack of Wrigley’s gum”

                I thought it an odd song to play as the theme implies that his wife is having an affair, but I still liked the song.  Many times we listen without understanding the meaning but may find it has a great rhythm or melody or what have you.  The ‘80’s seemed to spin out a wide variety of popular music that continues to be played at Chruch dances.

                I remember when Jenna was born, I was feeling out a baby book and one of the questions was what are some of the popular songs the year you are born.  I didn’t have a clue.  I asked the boys and they gave me titles such as Survivor’s: “Eye of the Tiger” or some hit from Journey. 

                “No, these songs are older than you.  Those were the songs played when I went to college” but that’s all they knew – songs of the 80’s. 

                Though Jenna and her brothers are technically all of the same generations, there are 15 plus years between her and them.  And, as she likes to remind us, she was born in a different century.   

                Last month we took her to her first dance.  The ad was featured as a “Mormon Prom”.  It was in Eugene, which I thought was a long way to go.  We spent hours looking for a dress before settling on one that fit her personality but didn’t look like your typical prom dress.  But it was a church dance with a strict dress code – or so I thought.  Turns out Eugene is a lot more lax than Salt Lake.  A LOT more.

                We went to Roseburg to pick up Manuel and took the two of them to Eugene.  Roland and I had a dinner date while the two of them stayed at the church eating food and making comments about what others were wearing and if they thought it looked appropriate for church or not. 

                We finished our dinner before the dance had ended and chose to wait in the foyer and do some crossword puzzles while we waited.  I could hear some songs from the ‘80’s and smiled knowing that Jenna was listening to the same tunes that I had listened to in College and her brothers had listened to just before and after she was born.  She will sing along with Journey, Cyndi Lauper and Cultural Club.  I am so impressed!

1980’s produced some fun music.  I’m so happy to hear that it hasn’t retired.