Hula Class

Last month I signed up for a hula dance class- and tonight was the first one!

Of course, when I signed up it was supposed to be on Thursday nights, and the fact that they've changed it to Friday nights is incredibly inconvenient.  But I managed to get there to check it out, anyway.

It was fun- they include language lessons as well- but unfortunately I'm not going to be able to continue.  It makes me sad, because I really, really miss having dance in my life.  Which, yeah- I know all I need to do to have dance in my life is, um, dance... but there's something different about dancing with others.  Something a little more sacred, as ridiculous as that sounds.

But hey- another few turns of the seasons, and maybe I can try again.

Tiny Monster

Today was a pretty lazy day.  The guys spent most of it watching football...

(so did the dogs)

...whilst Chelsea and I wandered in and out, and out and in, and ran errands and jabbered and played with Eaglet and planted bulbs in the most resentful way possible (we are neither one of us what one might call 'natural gardeners', and thus tend to think many of the requirements are more like suggestions we can just ignore).  All in all a nice, domestic sort of day.

The highlight was actually in the morning, when Eaglet and I had a pajama dance party in the living room.  That boy likes to shake it, shake it, that's for sure!  But so do I, so that worked out well.

Breather

And then there was an additional highlight when a package from my mom arrived, full of exciting things, but none so exciting as Eaglet's new slippers:

Perfect for Rampaging

Much delight was taken in knocking over block towers, I tell you what.

The First of Four

Bridge got married today, and it was Good.  Definitely in my top five weddings ever, and not just because I was rocking a cute red dress and perfectly matched shoes-and-nails.

Love Is a Stain Beneath my Skin

Festivities lasted long into the night, and I did my best to keep the dance floor rocking, as I do.  The DJ was not making it easy, with his terrible transitions and occasionally questionable song-choices, but fortunately I am essentially a dance-slut and can/will dance to just about anything.

Dionysian

modern maenads

Ariel's Partners All Dressed in Green

I woke this morning to slate gray skies and a chill in my bedroom.

It made me happy.

The sun made his appearance around mid-day, warming the skies and the earth, but now he is slipping behind the horizon once more, while the wind stirs up the trees in an joyful circle dance.  Loose strands of my hair sway along to his tune, and again- I am happy.

I do so love my corner off the country.

Has someone been watching Game of Thrones?  Hint: yes.

When Love is Stronger Than Fear

The last wedding I was at, Responsibilities were Required of me.  That was fine- I love weddings, and I love being In Charge of Things, so it was win-win, in my estimation.  Today's wedding, on the other hand, I got to be Just a Guest, and I have to say- that was pretty great, too.  Especially since this was the first wedding (since our own) that I got to bring Nathan with me, so on top of my typical "I love weddings and happy people!" blubbering there was also, "Oh remember what we did at our wedding?" blubbering (on my part, anyway).  Also the thing that, had you asked me before this evening, I'd have sworn would never happen:

Ladies and gentlemen, my husband danced with me.  On a dance floor.  In public.  There were witnesses!  Possibly even photographic evidence!  It was... so incredibly moving, because he is a person that does not dance.  Can not dance, to hear him tell it.  He does not "get" expressing one's self through The Art of Dance, and he is embarrassed by my proclivity for busting a move wherever/whenever (especially in grocery stores).  It should therefore come as no surprise that, when the dancing portion of the reception started, I was out on the dance floor with some other brave souls getting my Exuberance on, while Nathan calmly sipped beer and shot photos from the safe seclusion of our table.  So when Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" started playing and I made pitiful eyes at him, I did not actually expect him to respond beyond his typical head shake.  But...  he didn't shake his head.  He took off his camera, stood up, and walked over to me- and we danced!

And readers, I almost started crying again.  Happy crying, because it was such a perfect example of him valuing me more than his own pride.  I know he was afraid of looking like a fool on the dance floor, but he got out there, anyway, because he knew it would mean something to me.

And that's the secret, all you non-life-partnered peeps wondering just what it is you you should be looking for: happily ever after is not a magic trophy that someone hands you when you get everything Just Right.  It's found in those small moments when love overcomes fear.