“PERFECTLY ON TIME” MUSING
The insignificance of this human-suited earth-school traveller may well be superseded by the illusions of grandeur my soul has always been aware of.

Another period of reflections and musings? Seems to be the nature of this one and I don’t think I’m going to be apologetic about it. I also posted at Substack – Am I in a Time Warp and this blog may be somewhat related. As part of that meandering, plus taking a slightly deeper look at this business of “time passing by so quickly”, it struck me that:

• I have a shelf life.
• When my exit day arrives, I will exit.
• Until then what do I want to do with all of those “Perfectly on Time“ moments?

I expect it’s that third bullet that should receive my attention – with a view to being more mindful about gratitude for the spectacular story given to me, to travel through, here in the earth-school.

For some unknown reason I do NOT have an enormous bucketful of memories and yet every so often something will pop forward, as though a curtain has been lifted, and voila there’s a recollection that now seems to fit like a glove with my “Perfectly on Time” mantra. Enter the “little dancing queen” and a 1^st quarter experience calling to be written about and shared.

The Beginning of Dance

In the earliest years of the 1^st quarter, I wasn’t old enough to appreciate the gifts I was being given. I doubtless didn’t really begin to value them until late into the 3^rd quarter! These photos fill my heart with many emotions. Absolute amazement at the “time warp” and now actually perceiving that precious child with wonder. Followed closely by admiration to the little soul who agreed to come to the earth-school and live out the “story”. And finally, two-fold gratitude… first that mom took the photos and second that I still have them.

My brother was taking Highland and Tap classes and as an up and coming “little dancing queen” I wanted to dance too! In later years, stories included the telling about my “fussing to dance” whenever my brother was trying to practice and dad saying to our mom, “oh my goodness Kay, let her dance”. And so, she did and I did.

A Dance Competition

Highland Dance costumes included special black underpants and for an upcoming competition, as I was “doing things my own way”, I put those pants on inside out. OMG…. mom was simply beside herself (remember we’re looking back at the perception of a 5-year-old) and I really didn’t understand the fuss – something about superstition and how putting those pants on inside out would lead to bad luck. Being very self-sufficient it just made sense to change them to right side out and consider the matter done with. Believe it or not taking that action was apparently even worse!

Those who’ve known me for a long time are aware of my propensity for self-sufficiency and doing things my own way… characteristics that appear to have been around for a long time.

Back in those days there were “adult” and “baby” steps taught for the Highland Fling. Although young, I WAS a self-sufficient, soon to be “dancing queen” and HAD been taught the “adult” steps (not much attitude taking place there right?). And here follow the words written to provide you with a glimpse into what unfolded. I can almost “visualize” it in my memory – I hope you can too.

The piper is warming up his bagpipes and along with three other dancers our “turn” to perform is quickly approaching (there should be a way to include drumrolls here… LOL). Suddenly, there we all are… tiptoeing across the stage, stopping and placing our feet into the required “first position” and, waiting for the music to begin. At the appropriate point in the music we all start dancing the traditional Highland Fling steps. Although the youngest, I perform the “adult” steps, and am feeling quite pleased with myself as we finish, take our bow, and leave the stage to wait in anticipation for the judges’ results.

The “little dancing queen” did NOT place 1^st, 2^nd or even 3^rd.

Now enter Kitty, my dance teacher’s mom, and not an individual to be trifled with. She was quite assertive (in today’s world we may say aggressive) and insisted that their decision should be reconsidered because of (1) my age and (2) the fact that I had done the adult steps. In deference to this well-known and respected individual the judges agreed they would take another look – but – I would have to dance again to be re-evaluated.

And, you may have guessed it… I forgot the steps! Was it because of the inside out black underpants? Only the universe will ever know for sure, but for the remainder of my dance journey I’m pretty positive those underpants were never again put on inside out.

And then there was Tap

Also part of the dance story and, because my brother was 5 ½ years older than me, very good looking and an excellent dancer we would sometimes be “partnered” to do a routine together. An over-the-top experience for that little sister – probably not quite so much for an older brother.

We had a most beautiful young teacher, Loree Martin who organized and choreographed the annual Martin School of Dance Review and oh what an enchanting time we had. Costumes, makeup, Broadway musical themes and so much excitement. I can’t imagine there’s anyone who doesn’t relish listening to the applause of a large crowd at the end of a performance. Most certainly the children enjoyed it to no end while at the same time little egos may have gotten a tad blown out of proportion to the dismay of friends and family. Yet one more… Aha…”Perfectly on Time”.

And now we have dance once again in this 4^th quarter.

Thanks one more time to Sandy, for the invitations to embrace some new adventures and, the ongoing encouragement. Between folk, ballet and tap we are now up to about 10 hours a week. No OCD going on here with the Crone!

Ballet is the newest genre and I’ve discovered there’s something captivating about stepping into a dance studio with floor to ceiling mirrors and barres to facilitate lessons. In addition to an energetic sense of softness and calm there are also elements of grace, strength and fluidity that seem to kind of “float” around the room as we all put our best foot forward. My appreciation continues to grow, and I’m so delighted to engage with these like-minded souls, exploring like-minded pastimes.

Tap is of course an entirely different modality to ballet. This YouTube contains a routine we’re learning and is raising the bar on what happiness might look like – at all ages. The high energy of these youngsters is contagious and for at least a few minutes I swear …

I too can learn to dance just like they do!!
If not in this lifetime maybe I’ll just have to come back.

Is there a takeaway this week?

Am I trying to recreate or relive a part of what is now a long ago past? My view of life between the 1^st and 4^th quarters has undergone profound change (as it should have if any significant growth or maturity has evolved). Perhaps that little soul is just offering a reflective evaluation as a way of validating “Perfectly on Time”. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been there.