Dancing with the Who?

I'll let you in on a little secret, well known by some, not so well known by others. I don't like to dance much, and well, Matt does. He really wanted to dance at our wedding, and I was just too uncomfortable with the idea of standing in a big room dancing in front of a million people. (Ok, a couple hundred is bad enough!) That's just not my idea of fun. So, as a special date night? I told Matt we could rent an instructional video. I really wanted an old ballroom dance video (hmm, 17th/18th century type ballroom dancing), but all we found were more "modern" ones at the library.

What did we come home with? Actually, a wedding dance instructional video. It took us almost the whole week to get over the puffy sleeves and silly songs of the 80's before we actually gave it a whirl...or a twirl...or...whatever. So, the night before the video was due back to the library, we decided we needed to give it a try. Me, half of a perfectionist and self-conscious type (why I only do this in private) who after several minutes of frustration lost it and surrendered to hysterical laughter (other half). Matt a goofy, yet serious type, tried to get it right the first time so we could be successful? I only tried to get it right not to look and feel ridiculous. (I'm still convinced Matt was doing the wrong kind of waltz...we had 2 different versions, and boy, this whole thing brought out some competition in us.) We finally realized these dances just aren't up to our speed, and this was supposed to be an enjoyably fun (albeit hilarious) activity...and we shouldn't be all frustrated with each other! Being wayyy above the simple moves they provided, (umm, that gave us enough difficulty), we did a little choreographing of our own to the classical songs provided!

It is truly a shame we didn't have a camera running. Matt dropped me about 3 times (I'll err on the lower side) trying to "dip" me. I got a few sweat drops...I mean spit drops from laughter...in my eyes. Gross!..but I was able to complete the move with a smile that time... I think! We got pretty good at the twirls, and Matt even had hand squeezes or flicks to signal to me if he was letting go or not. He's pretty tricky! ;) I didn't always get the signal...but...it was a good try anyway. He zoomed me around, and we appropriately named it "the airplane," and somehow we both ended up on the floor like the real airplane rides you give kids. Yes, my stomach was on Matt's feet, as I elegantly and gracefully floated through the air. I don't think I've ever heard Matt laugh so hard before. I tried to do a tuck and roll out of the airplane move...but we got a little tangled and crunched. Actually, I think Matt's exact words were, "...cough..cough...your shoulder just crushed into my throat ...hack"; or something like that. All of this reminded me of my childhood when my family would perform silly stunts and the winter Olympics with our family friends. (In case you were wondering how I fared: I was the "synchronized snow shoveling" gold medalist with my partner, Mr. M., who was like 2 feet taller than me. I think I was his partner because I was the littlest...and easiest to toss?) We decided to call it quits after 20 minutes of craziness...and only a few minor bumps and bruises. Yes, over and over again, we prove that we are still children at heart!

While we're not quite ready to be a part of Dancing with the Stars or close to being invited to the ball in Pride and Prejudice (a favorite!), we had a good time...and learned a little bit more about each other and how to work together! I challenge you to try this on a date night with your husband. The old video was a kicker in and of itself, and if you have skills like us...well, I don't even think I have to finish that sentence!

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance"
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Ohh, it's good to have him home!