The Queen of Clog (not)

I signed up for clogging classes the way I approach a  lot of new endeavors, such as bridge lessons and tai chi classes, meaning with no particular agenda but just to do something different which might be a lot of fun.  I had no idea how much I was going to enjoy clogging, enough that I bought a pair of double-tap clogging shoes after the first class.  That was several months ago.

I had learned from my teachers that there was going to be an all-day event for cloggers last weekend.  I was torn about going because it would entail a long drive, and I wasn't going to be able to stay for the entire day, so I wasn't sure if the potential reward would be worth the long drive on my own.  And behind that was the sneaking suspicion that most of the attendees would be experienced dancers, while I am just about an inch above beginner.  So I'd pretty much decided not to go.

Sweet Hubby surprised me by not only encouraging me to go, but offering to come with me to share the drive and watch me dance.  The surprise was because only the day before, Valentine's Day (which is also the anniversary of his marriage proposal), we had gone to see the latest Cirque du Soleil show (thrilling, as always).  He is usually so immersed in various household projects that it isn't often he is willing to be away from the house for two almost-full days in a row.  But he'd heard me talking about this class and was curious to see the dancing for himself, plus he knew I would probably not go on my own.  And so we went!

We stayed for the first part of the day, which was comprised of four workshops, with four different teachers teaching four different dances.  Happily for me, my two local instructors were there to encourage and reassure me, which helped because my suspicions were founded; I was the worst dancer in the room.  (SH confirmed that for me, but only because I basically demanded that he tell me the truth.)  Like most, maybe all, people, it is challenging to my ego to be not only not the best but the worst at something.  But I'm finally old enough to realize that nobody was going to be watching me nor caring about how I performed.  They were all absorbed in their own efforts and joys and challenges and self-images.  So I just did the best I could and had a terrific time.  Thank you, SH, for getting me there and being there with me.