Member-only story
Joy
My wife has given me so many great birthday presents in our twenty years together. This past October, she outdid herself.
She bought me two ballroom dancing lessons. I’ve always wanted this, but never verbalized it because a) I thought she would be uncomfortable taking lessons with me, and b) I felt weird about doing it on my own. I don’t remember ever telling her these things because, over twenty years, you pick the things that are most important, and you prioritize your energy around those things. You leave the rest.
But I opened the envelope on my birthday, and it was two ballroom dancing lessons — right at the place we walk by almost every week when we go out for a stroll in Garden City. I was so happy.
The plan was that she would come with me to take pictures and video.
But then we had to deal with Brian, an absolutely adorable man who knew just exactly where and how hard to push so that my wife decided to jump in with me, and we took the lesson together.
When you decide to pay attention to your moments, it’s astounding how many surprises come up. I didn’t expect to be so afraid. I mean, I taught yoga for cryin’ out loud, for eight years. I know how to move, I’m in relationship with my body.
