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OLD DOGS LEARNING NEW
TRICKS
Growing up, we never learned to dance. We were both raised in a
conservative religious environment and learned early that dancing was
"not something that good people did." We never really understood
why "good people didn’t dance." But, since we wanted very much
to please our parents, and live up to our church’s expectation of
"goodness," we didn’t dance.
Most of a lifetime later, we retired. Our parents had traded this life
for the next, and attitudes within the church had become less rigid. Then
we began to spend the winter months in Texas and discovered line dancing
and Western dancing.
We had been reading articles touting dancing as an excellent form of
exercise for seniors. Dance lessons were available in our RV park without
cost. We went out of curiosity about this unfamiliar form of exercise.
Perhaps we were still a little curious, too, about why "good people
don’t dance." After several winters of dance lessons once a week,
we have made some important discoveries.
First, we’ve learned that good people DO dance, and, furthermore,
they are the better for it! Dancing is, indeed, wonderful exercise for
persons of any age. The really vigorous "dancing-with-the-stars"
steps, however, are probably best performed by people younger than we are!
Second, having two (or more) left feet is a curable condition! It has
taken time, patient teaching, and lots of laughter at our frequent
mistakes, but we seldom trip and fall anymore!
Third, it’s fun. Learning new steps is a challenge for both feet and
memory. When either – or both – fail, the whole class dissolves in a
chorus of chuckles. We often return home after class as tired from
hilarious laughing as from vigorous footwork!
Fourth, we discovered that our aging bodies are capable of more
endurance and grace of movement than we could ever have imagined! True, we
have certain muscles that complain of abuse when the music is fast, and
tricky new steps can sabotage a joint or two. Morning aches and pains,
however, are a small price to pay for an hour or two of floating, twirling
and swaying!
For more than half a century, we plodded through life dance-lessly,
carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to us. But now in retirement,
these two old dogs are learning some new tricks – or should I say
"new steps"?
11/12/09 - mshr |