Showing posts with label thursday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thursday. Show all posts

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Thankful for..... Dance

I've struggled since the weekend to find my bloggy love... the passion I have been in the process of rebuilding just seemed to have disappeared overnight. When I tried to write, or budget, or sew, my brain was complete mush.

Part of it is to do with WonderMan's visit, because wonderful as it was to have him home, it was over all too quickly and this time we knew the break is going to be longer, and sort of indefinite as it is officially harvest next week, and he and his truck will be having the kind of close relationship I can only dream of.

Today my passion returned... in full force... demanding I get home and write about my favourite thing in the world....

Tonight I'm thankful that I can dance.

Every week I turn up to the local RSL hall, and spend hours teaching and dancing.

I have danced, at the same hall, with the same teacher, since I was six. I finished after Tiger did her first concert, and after trying to convince myself I had given it up I finally went back this year, and reclaimed the love of my life.

Through all the ups and downs that life has brought me... there has always been the escape to dance classes, and the happiness it brings. 

When life is pushing me down, one night of dancing can push it all to the side, and help me get through, to stand strong against the world.

I love the feeling of making my body do incredible things. I can feel the music from my pointed toes to the tips of my fingers, and when it flows through me I could conquer the world. 

On my sixth birthday I was woken in the early hours of the morning, my mother pressed a parcel to my chest, kissed me on the head, and told me "I love you, I'm sorry, but your uncle is in the hospital, I have to go."

He had been involved in a head on collision between his and another truck, and was fighting for his life after almost burning to death on the side of the road.

I struggled so hard to comprehend what was happening, and I wanted my birthday to go away and never come back again.

And then I opened that parcel; inside were my first ballet shoes, and a ticket from my mother promising dance lessons from that day onward. 

My joy was overwhelming, my grief crushing. The happiest and most heartbreaking moments of my life happened that morning, while my father held me close and let me cry until I couldn't cry any more.

I will never forget that moment.

Nor will I forget my years spent in that hall, with my teachers voice ringing in my ears, and the beat running through my veins.

I have danced in seventeen concerts, and will dance in my eighteenth and final concert this December.

As we prepare to start our new life, I am saddened that our time with Mrs D has come to an end. She has been like a second mother, watching out for me, loving me, caring for me and teaching me for so many many years.

I don't know what life will be like without her, and without dance.

I struggle to even imagine it.

There are dance classes where we are going, just started this year. I am thankful that my girls, and maybe I, will be able to continue to dance and live life with joy in our hearts. 

But there will always be this tiny piece of wrongness - the feeling that Mrs D should be there, spurring me on to be better, stronger, faster.

Even so I know I will live with dance in my heart, never letting go of my love, holding onto one of the most pure joys life can offer.

And for now, I will dance like everyone is watching, for it is the most blissful feeling I know.




Linking with Kate Says Stuff for Thankful Thursday

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday is good for me. I am a natural anal nitpicker, I can see what hasn't happened and what I haven't achieved but barely notice the result of my hard work!

Checking in every week to be thankful is starting to make me see the good bits amidst the chaos.

So this morning I'm thankful for:

Getting some ironing done. The tub was waaaay too full and even though I love ironing it's one of those jobs that comes way down the list of priorities on a daily basis.

Having a free coffee on my cafe card. So today my mocha will taste better than ever!

Frog not being sick after all. When she started snuffling I thought the worst, and was just starting to consider the criteria of daycare vs staying home. Turns out it was a snuffle, and she's fine. Which means I am fine, and I can drink my mocha in peace.

WonderMan letting me get an iPad. Why so thankful? Because of the enormous pleasure it gives me to annoy The Bitch, and baby, this is going to annoy her so much she may actually explode (please?)

Having my own house to live in with my little family. Because it means I don't have to put up with anyone's shit, and I can make the rules. It also means there is somewhere for mum to go to retain her sanity over cups of strong coffee, and slices of cake.

School holidays. Because I actually get to see Tiger most days. There are only so many hours she can spend reading in her room before she must emerge for food, and then I can corner her into spending some time with me.

SPRING. Because I know that at some point it is going to warm up and I will be able to feel my toes again. It gives me a tiny wee shred of hope that the cold. will. stop.

Aunties and pasties. Nothing better than a plate of nice warm pasties for dinner. Especially when cooked by someone else!

My job. Which this week is sponsoring my first shopping trip in YEARS. I may have to leave the kids behind just to fit it all in the car. Which will of course devastate me, but I'm sure the shopping will more than make up for it.

Shops, and credit cards. Nuff said.

Cousins. Well only one actually, but one good enough to make up for all the rest. Her kids are funny, and when they see our kids they play. Nicely. With no fighting. Believe me, I'm overwhelmingly grateful for this!

Rice paper rolls. Well I would be, if I actually got to eat the damn things! I've been trying to buy a roast chicken at the supermarket ALL WEEK. Every single time I go there they have sold out, it will be 45 minutes, or the damn serving girl can't see them because her head is up her arse.

But I'm sure I will be very thankful once I do finally get to make them.

Are you thankful today?

Linking up with Kate Says Stuff for Thankful Thursday!