Monday, March 25, 2013

Tap dancing in the grass...

... is the title I always thought I would give a book about my life.

The story:

I had the idea to show my daughter Shirley Temple movies...  Like Curly Top and such.  Of course after the first one she *had* to have tap shoes.  And Clara being who she's always been, threw herself into the deep end of tap dancing practice.  In our living room, in the kitchen, in the bathroom... and when I went outside, of course, she followed.

She had been dancing in the walkway, all the way to our driveway.  But at some point something must have seemed better, softer... so off she went to the grass for quite a while.  As I minded whatever it was I was into that afternoon, Clara continued with her furious practice, kicking her little legs around and quite possibly envisioning herself as Shirley in Curly Top.

It was at the highest point of her new found talent that she called for me:  "Mom!  Look!!  I'm tapdancing in the grass!!"

She was so happy, so elated, and living in her own world of tap dancing superstardom.  Never mind that the whole idea of tapdancing was lost in the cushiony grass, drowning out the beautiful metal taps hitting a solid ground.  She was, by God, dancing her heart out, who was I to burst her bubble?

Bless her sweet, tapdancing little heart.  I love her so much.  It was at that moment I realized how most of my life I've lived tap dancing in the grass.  So many instances, so many situations, so many relationships...  So much hard work and wasted emotion.

Yet somewhere, someone is looking down and seeing that my efforts are pure...  I may not be good, but I have good intentions.

G


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