Although we seldom attend Oak Point dances because of Linda's physical problems, I know some here have enjoyed seeing me take the floor and strut my stuff. On the slow dances, my fluidity and grace invariably gains great admiration, while with faster sets, my ability to move my feet, hips and arms in total coordination with any music draws gasps of amazement..

Yeah, right: I can't dance. I do dance, but only to give my wife a partner. I am a pathetically bad dancer: having absolutely no rythm or feel for the music, any movement I make is guaranteed to be clumsy and out of step. Any gasps from the audience are expressions of horror at how badly I am dancing, and definitely not admiration.

I tried taking lessons once. I think I was an inspiration to the other men.. at least in the sense that none of them had to feel that they were the worst dancer there or even close: I set new standards of inability. I tried, I really did, but it's just not in me. I can learn where my feet should be, but I can't get them there in time with the music. It's just not going to happen, period.

But as noted above, I do dance, and Linda doesn't have to beg and plead to get me out on the floor. I know she loves to dance, and obviously she needs a partner, so I get my feet out there and try to make them work. She is my wife, my best friend, and the person I love: why wouldn't I?

Here at Oak Point, some of us unfortunately have good reason not to take the floor with their partner: physical problems make it impossible. Linda really shouldn't be dancing anymore; when she does it always costs her dearly in pain for days afterward and I do now try to discourage her from this. But it is hard to give up: she loves it, she enjoys it (at least while she's actually dancing) and I want her to be happy. When she wants to dance, I will dance with her.

When we do attend dances, I often see men sitting stolidly, arms folded, ignoring a wife who is twitching in her seat in time to the music. Yes, I know that some of you have physical problems, bad hips or whatever and really can't dance now, but I also know that isn't true for everyone who refuses to notice their partners desire to dance. For those men, the ones who could get out of their chairs if they wanted to, I have a question:

If it were you who wanted to dance, and your wife who found dancing a little difficult and clumsy, would she get up with you to make you happy?

You know the answer, and so do I: it's almost certainly "yes". She'd do it because you want to do it, she'd do it to make you happy. She do it because that's what people who love other people do, right?

So what's your excuse again?

Lighthouse Animal & Pest Control Inc. - Your Oak Point Neighbor Peter Cheney: 508 947 2510