Tippity Tap

Last weekend was a preview to warmer days. Temperatures hit 70s and it was a wonderful outdoorsy kind of weekend. For some reason, almost everyone figured it was a temporary phase. This wasn't for good, yet. What I did do, in addition to hitting the trail, was to get a jump start on my spring cleaning session.

The basement has been long neglected and sorely overdue for some major cleaning and sorting. While most of it was paperwork that needed to be sorted out and shred and discarded, there were a few long-forgotten surprise finds. One in particular sent me down the memory lane, as always , reminiscing about some of the good ole days.

It had been a few months since I had moved to Virginia. I had made a few new friends in this area. An IM window popped(this from one of the afore-mentioned newly acquired friend).

'Hey, had a q for ya"

'Sure, sup?'

'Sit tight and don't fall off the chair when you read my next line, ok?'

'Ok....'

'Would you be willing to go with me for a tap dance class?'

[See, for those that are new to my space and don't exactly know me- I have two left feet. I have ALWAYS wanted to dance, but have had no formal training. Over the years, it appears I have been rendered incapable of jiving even if I had to save my life. So my response, which came quite instantly, took me by shock.]

'Oh sure. When? And where?'

'Are you sure!!!????? I mean this is TAP DANCE. Look it up. Its in the rec center's spring class schedule. I've always wanted to try. But my spouse thinks I've lost it. So I figured I'd ask you if you'd be interested...'

'Definitely, I can go.'

'Alright! I will send you the link to register and the schedule. Its for 8 weeks. And I found a few stores that sell tap dancing shoes.'

And thus 2 weeks later, there we were. The two of us, wearing shiny new 'tap dance' shoes and neither of us remotely felt 'What am I doing!!!??'. We were excited like kids in a candy store. I bought a black pair and she a set of beige ones. 'I don't want black shoes!' she had adamantly exclaimed. And seriously, neither of us thought we weren't in this for the long haul. Of course we had NO idea when and where exactly we'd be employing this new skill of ours, but at that time all that mattered was that it all sounded cool and fancy!

Oh the joy of being young and excitable!

Img source : Here

The first day we realized our instructor was well...you know...he was 'oriented' differently. Billy also lived in spandex and indulged in 'updo' hairstyles of the 70s with his blonde hair...I think he was what is called a drag artist in his spare time. Anyway, to cut a long story short...he was an experience in itself.

But then, we were so preoccupied with the novelty of it all that it didn't matter to us how or what Billy was. We tapped and waltzed to the music, tried to keep up with the rhythm and in general we were having what is called loads of fun. And that's all that matters, doesn't it?

So if you're thinking- 'ya right, I am sure 8 weeks was all this new fangled fad lasted'- you're SO wrong!

We went through for another 3 full terms, thank you! Summer, Fall AND Winter. We even got asked to go for a Christmas tap dance party at Billy's place. But since I was scheduled to go home that holiday season, we decided to politely decline. It tickles me no end wondering what we would have done if we had accepted the invite, but that's something best left to one's imagination. Oh , AND we didn't miss a class all through winter, despite pileups and some biting cold days. Such was our dedication and commitment.

In our last class for that season, Billy told us that he and his 'spouse' had decided to move to Dallas- to warmer climes and better opportunities. There would be a new instructor, if we wished to continue our lessons, he advised.

And now, after all these years, here are the shoes. Neatly packed in its original box, fondly remembered, never used since.

But see, it is not about whether we used our newly acquired skill any time, it isn't about what skills adorn our achievement belt- it is about the good fun times we had in each other's company. Something that made us closer than ever, something common between only the two of us. That is what gets carried through the years. And once in a while, as you dust the layers off an old and forgotten box of shoes- you realize this is what makes for life experiences. Something far more precious that any thing money can buy. A pair of tap dance shoes.

My weekend was well served.