The other day GG said to me, ‘What do you most like about dancing?’ I gave a sort of waffly answer about feeling good after exercise, because, all of a sudden and (let’s face it, quite unlike me) I didn’t know what to say.
The fact is, I realised in that stomach churning moment, I like everything about it! Ok so I am not good with the technique and my toes will not point outwards and I can’t do different things with different limbs, but I’ve started to love it. I love the way the music makes me feel (well apart from the cha cha track). I adore the tango music now I’m getting into the ‘disdain’ performance and that sort or Argentinian bit (still makes me blush). Our freestyle music is exciting and I am going to do my absolute best to perform it as well as I can. But what do I most like – I think it’s that when I’m dancing I can’t think about anything else at all, not about work, or what to get for dinner, or when the baby’s coming (daughter due very soon…..) I just think about the steps and try and feel the music.
So, hark at me, all that moaning and now I love it!
Here’s something to think about. A few years ago I met up with an old schoolfriend, who I hadn’t seen for far too many years than I’m prepared to declare. We recognised each other straight away. We both brought photos from school. It was a great afternoon, we reminded each other of people from the past. She remembered things I’d completely forgotten and I could do the same for her. (I remembered coveting her raincoat!) It’s like she mentioned something and it opened a little drawer in my brain, which then opened another drawer and so on. If you have dementia, there isn’t a drawer there to open. Not only would I not have recognised my friend I wouldn’t remember my schooldays. Someone told me once that music can calm people with dementia, maybe they remember the way the music made them feel, I don’t know, I think I might. Whatever, I do know that the best place to be would be Vale House, so please, even though my journey is nearly done, spare a bit for this amazing charity! http://www.justgiving.com/Jane-Dixon6