Danced Out
Exhaustion strikes, but in a good way. This exhaustion comes from dancing with a nearly 90-year old woman (my mom)–I call it dancing, and I say it’s with her. This is not accurate: -it was dancing a couple of feet behind with arms outstretched to catch her in case of a fall.
My mother grew up in a time and family in which people didn’t really touch. Everything about them was northern; and the times were harsh. As a result, touch is somewhat distracting to her, an imposition rather than support. (It’s a bit of a tussle to take her arm even when crossing a busy street.)
And yet, there was dancing. With. Her. Of a sort. (One two three four, one two three four–she counts time aloud with quiet absorption as she moves. I hate to say that I think the song was a waltz.)
A magnificent sort.
Music–it enlivens/energizes/lightens the body and soul.
(One two three four, one two three four, one two threeeeeeee.)
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I am linking this post to Imperfect Prose, run by Emily Wieranga. The dancing came about, in part, because I just got a speaker for my computer so that my visiting quite- deaf mother could actually hear some of the music on my iTunes. She liked it a lot.
Explore posts in the same categories: daughtering, elephants, UncategorizedTags: dancing with my mother, manicddaily, no touch no foul, power of music at 90, tired from dancing
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ManicDDaily 
May 17, 2012 at 1:42 am
Precious poetry
May 17, 2012 at 11:10 am
big smiles…it is a dance of sorts…and i am glad you are there if she needs you and willing to let her dance and just be ready as well…there is something in that for sure…
May 17, 2012 at 11:14 am
Thanks, Brian. I am a big believer in dance. With or without tap shoes. (None of us has the tap shoes any more but the style lingers.) k.
May 17, 2012 at 12:27 pm
i am too…i love the picture as well….my wife was a ballerina for 18 years….
May 17, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Great! I was never very good at ballet! But I used to love to watch it. I am old enough that I saw Nureyev many times–and used to stand at the stage door. He was like a panther. I met Margot Fonteyn too – a fairy princess come to life. Amazing. thanks. k.
May 17, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Beautiful story (even though I’m a terrible dancer)
May 17, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Thanks. k.
May 17, 2012 at 7:34 pm
There is much sacrifice and love in what you are doing for your mother. I love the joy in which you write these words. And, how beautiful that you can see the dance in it all 🙂
May 17, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Thanks, not so sure about that, but thanks. k>
May 17, 2012 at 8:29 pm
this reminds me so much of when i went home to take care of my mum (when she had brain cancer) and we would dance together to praise music. these moments with our mothers… priceless. bless you friend.