YOU GOT THIS

YOU GOT THIS!

Got What? Who? Where Was I?

~ ~ ~

Oh, heck! I’ll admit it. I am nowhere near perfect. More like as far from perfect as anyone can get, but you know what? So, what! I am me and happy to be me (whoever that person is).

Can I sing? Oh, hell no! I like to try but I’m always way off key. (I think the key got stuck in another door, somewhere.)

Can I dance? I do try but often my timing is a bit off and my steps perhaps a split second too late. It doesn’t take much to distract me.

Can I act? Wouldn’t even know where to begin and would in all probability forget my lines. Again, I get distracted too easily.

Hm, where was I?

Oh, yeah. Wait, what was I talking about?

Ah, abilities!

Okay, so I can’t sing, mess up dance (I’m in a dance class), or act (tried once as a teen in a class play, and failed, miserably).

I really do have one ability that is a bit easier for me. Writing! But, even with that, I can find a distraction. Or rather, the distraction finds me.

My husband has the news on as I write this. I hear something that interests me. I’ll stop typing and walk from my little office to the great room where the TV is blaring out the news. I’ll sit and listen until the report is over. Instead of racing back to my computer to continue with my train of thought, I lumber to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and stir the pot where my spaghetti sauce is simmering.

Oh, yeah, back to my story. Hm.

Right, abilities and/or distractions.

I’ll talk about my dance class, which is fantastic and so much fun, but my ability is mediocre. Our class is held at our local YMCA and the room where we dance is small. There are three solid walls with one made of glass. Oh, loride! When our dance steps cause us to turn and face the glass, I can watch as those involved in their own exercises perform their workout routines. I’m fine until I see someone I know. INSTANT DISCTRACTION!

Then there is the issue of remembering the steps to each dance. Yes, it’s organized dancing and each dance is choreographed. I’ll hear the music and instantly recognize what steps are required. Does that mean I’ll remember them when we begin on cue?

Hardly! I muddle through most of the songs. Again, distraction!

I am so lucky to have a few extremely close friends who are co-instructors (#2, #3 and #4). Number three will always dance next to me and Number 4, in front of me. (Number 1 is always on the other side of the room for those like me who struggle a bit.) I’ll hear them whisper, “It’s ok. You got this!”

I love their confidence in me; however, I wish it was contagious. Nodding my head, right on cue, we begin. I’ll hear Lynn say, “pivot twice”, and know immediately, that means a full turn but not exactly turning. We are pivoting – twice. There is a difference between turning and pivoting. So, yes, I pivot. I’ll here Lindy whisper, “jazz box”. Yes, we have a step called, “jazz box”. We continue through the first quarter of the dance. Now that they’ve helped me through the first part of the dance, the rest comes easy.

Oh, heaven help me! Our main instructor just announced that we’ll be practicing Thriller for our Halloween Trunk or Treat!

Thriller is my biggest nemesis.

Our (#2) co-instructor walks over to me. “Donnie, stop fretting. You got this! You’ll be fine.”

I smile and then as my brain’s lightbulb illuminates, I look at Margaret and say, “Of course, I’ll be fine! If I mess up a bit, so what! We’re all going to be dressed like Zombies and considering that we’re supposed to be dead, so are our brains!”

Margaret, Lynn, and Lindy look at me, then each other, and shake their heads. My friend Patti, hearing the verbal exchange, says as she laughs loudly, “Hey girls! You know her sense of humor; did you expect anything else? She’s hopeless. We all know that! Give it up!”

Yes, we have a good and hearty laugh at my expense, but then, they all know as soon as we’re done dancing, I’m going home to write about it.

“Hey Donnie,” Margaret calls out as I’m leaving our class, “Can’t wait to see what you’re going to write. Make sure you include me!”

I smile and say, “How could I forget you? You hound me to death.”

Again, we all laugh. I drive home and immediately sit at my computer.

Yes, these are my friends. We tease each other, laugh at each other, and encourage each other.

Each time we’re about to learn a new dance, one if not all of them will grab my hand and say, “It’s fine, Girlfriend, you got this.”

And with all of them in my corner, I surely do!