“The Dance”

I wrote this 4 years ago. I had been contemplating my seemingly boring routine.

Gracefully aging, gliding through daily routines. In bed by eleven each evening, up every morning by seven. Executing each routine with the smooth grace of a ballet dancer. Routines have gradually been adjusted each year to refine the dance.

In my 20s, I was just beginning to learn all the steps. Defining routines for work and play. After an occasional reckless night, the night and day overlapped sending me back to the beginning for more rehearsal.

The 30s brought children into the dance, causing many missteps. Tripping due to lack of sleep and disrupted routines. After a few tries, the new routine developed with smaller dancers adding color and motion to the dance.

The 40s brought divorce and change requiring new choreography for a new dance. Members of the troupe had changed leaving holes in the routine.

The 50s brought a change of venue. A much brighter theater and stage. One with hope and new beginnings allowing me to dance freely with abandon.

Now in my 60s, the dance has become a comfortable routine. Simple flowing choreography with need to learn few new steps. Mostly polishing the steps I know, adding a new one now and then, but enjoying the movement and freedom of the dance.