Day 202 ~ Square Dancing

July 21, 2014

My Instead: I went to listen to music on the square in downtown Belleville and danced with my mom.

 

My mom and I spoke earlier in the day and she mentioned that she would be with her friends that night to listen to music on Belleville’s square. This happens on Monday nights during the summer. “Well, thanks for inviting me!” I was teasing. She said that Stan (he and his wife are longtime friends) was playing so she was sure to be there. I would come too! 

The evening was a weatherman’s delight, as many of them have been this summer. Last summer about killed us all with its horrible heat and drought. I sat with Mom and her “entourage” and engaged in polite conversations with these ladies that I have known for years.  

The music played on as our ears listened and our hearts reminisced. I leaned over and asked Mom to dance to “Please Release Me”. Her eyes were welled with tears as she looked in the distance. I watched my mom in my dad’s arms dancing to this song. My silent reverie. After the song, I leaned over again and said that I would really like to dance with her tonight. My mom, the shy one, said she would when there were more people out there dancing. She knew that this was my “instead” for the day. Is that so bad? When my quest for this year gets me to do things like this, it is all good! 

“Waltz Across Texas” finally brought her to her feet. We decided that she would lead, as always, and then we waltzed. It was a little rough at first, but we eventually got in sync. My mother held me in her arms like she held my dad so many times…for so many years. Her eyes smiled and the memories weren't so painful with her substitute partner. After all, Dad is a part of me.