continuation: "New Class"

What I was going  and still am singing praises about is not belly dancing, per se', but excercise!!  Since Christmas Eve my left knee has been out of place.  I have stretched and excersied it, but no relief!!  I am what I used to joke about; the "older generation" favorite fragrance, Bengay!  During class I was feeling the stretch and was dreading how my knee was going to take this "abuse".  Somehow  my knee popped during class.  Went home and told my children about class and attempted to show my new moves, explaining that's not how it really looks, but hopefully by week 6, I will be able to show them an improvement!  We laughed at how I told them the teacher emphasises moves by saying "BAM, hip to left" and "BAM, now to the right".  I'm glad I took my fiends advice and accompanied her to this class!  Six a.m. next morning, I'm scared to move a muscle.  I'm wondering if I'm going to have to roll out of bed, somehow.  To my very joyful surprise, I got right out of bed.  Knee felt fine!  A little sore, but better than it had felt the last month.  WOW!  Belly Dance class!! It stinks to get old, but it's worse to feel it!  I can't wait for class next week!

A new class; the healing experience!

My co-worker asked me several weeks ago if I'd be interested in taking a class with her: Belly Dance.  At the time I felt I was game for anything that would take me out of my ho-hum existance, so I said "yes".  I kept the date in the back of my mind.  I told a friend that I would be taking this class weeks prior to the date.  He seems to hang out quite a bit at the golf course and the class was to be held at the Clubhouse there.  He mentioned, laughingly, that maybe he'll run into me there!  I felt silly I mentioned it!  I thought what a thing to mention!!...a belly dance class, ha! 
On Wednesday around 4ish, my co-worker asked me if we were meeting at the Clubhouse.  I had hoped she had forgotten about the class, but oh shucks, she hadn't!  I agreed to meet her there at 6:45.  I went home, with a few texts and calls about dinner menu with the kids on the way.  Dinner was prepped and served quickly.  In the middle of the process of creating a delicious meal I informed kids I would be attending a class.  Boy, they were so surprised!  They encouraged me eventho my daughter did not want to participate with me.  I decided to change clothing to go "workout".  I left with plenty of time, it was strange....I have not taken a class or gone to the gym in years!  I have not made time for me.  I hoped the class was cancelled on my way there.  As I got to the Clubhouse I noticed there was one car parked in lot.  I thought I better go check it out and wait for my friend to show up before I left, being that I was sure class was cancelled.  I walked in and I was the first "student" there.  The teacher, a very nice lady, asked me if I had pre-enrolled.  She said there was quite a class coming in!  I filled in the enrollment form and paid the forty dollars.  As I paced the floor for a few minutes the class (students) started to trickle in.  By then I had figured out that I was not going anywhere!  I started to feel a little unprepared for the class when a few of the ladies took out their "jingles" (that's what I call them) and tied their thingys around their waists.  The jingles helped set the mood for class.

Dinner time humor

After putting in my hours at the office; playing with paper all day, I head home to make a "delicious" dinner, as my son puts it.  It's the same routine as I head out,  kids call me same time asking whats for dinner.  I think it's funny!  Somehow they envision me cooking and driving!  Forget texting and driving, oh no, it's cooking for me.  So my little girl is hilarious, witty too.  My older daughters (the university child) boyfriend is on a no-junk-diet.  He had a physical last week and needs to shed a few pounds.  I think it's the junk food and eating out.  It's not that it's all bad, but it's not as nutritous and so expensive.  So we are having dinner and I ask him about fast food.  He laughs and says "no fast food today".   My comedian daughter starts to relate a story about when she was "younger" (mind you, she is 13!) she and her siblings would ask their mother (me) for a glass of water.  Her mommy would say to breathe in some air; there is condensed water in the air.  Just gulp it down!  My daughter is making me look like a water prude!  I don't know if there is such a thing,  but it seems that I am one!!  Now I KNOW I never said that!!  Oh she makes me laugh, and everyone else at the dinner table too.  I do recall telling the kids "no" when I considered their request  to be junk food.  I would say no; you just ate or dinner is almost ready.  Usually they would enhance their request with "but I'm hungry".  I would say go drink a glass of water.  It's a family inside joke now.  We still get a good laugh about that.  As the years have gone by the stories have been enhanced, much funnier now.  I enjoy and look forward to dinner time.  I'm sure the kids do too.  We take any opportunity to bond and laugh!

My college blues

Today there was a lot of chatter at work about College,  FAFSA, transfers and grants.  I am sooo glad my daughter did most of that footwork on her own.  My daughter is a very determined, focused, and goal oriented young lady.  Ahhh**sigh!  I miss her so much!  The last few years she has behaved as if she knows it all.  I have learned to stand in the sidelines and be an observer.  I'm always there if they need me, but they seem to make good choices.  Sometimes it's not what I would do, but it works for them and that's what counts.  It is a difficult thing to let them "go", but they reassure me daily that they are doing great.  I do not get to visit/see my daughter daily.    Its just that we don't get to spend too much of their teen years with them!  My son is in the transition stage of (transfer) from college to university.  He too is doing it all.  I'm glad that the two kids are growing into young proactive adults.  Yes, they gow up, and fast!  I dont get to spend much time with them as their school schedules seem to occupy all their time.  Being a parent  is hard on the heart.  We have children that are moving away and it stinks!  But the upside is that they gain wonderful knowledge and experiences that will remain with them forever.  I go back to when I was their age and what I was doing.  My poor parents!  I love those two.  They put up with a lot of my stuff and are still unconditional now as back then. There is joy accompanied with sadness as the kids are growing up.  My sadness about this stage is that I get to enjoy their college ups and downs, but without their father.  I wish he was here to help me get thru  these years as the kids begin to embark on their new journey.  I am proud of them, and I'm sure he is too.