This, That, and the Other Thing

So much as happened since I last blogged that I just hope I don't forget any pertinent details. So without further ado. . . .

I'm taking dance class, and not just any dance class. The other week I received multiple calls from Steve. He left me a message informing me that he needed to ask me something, which aside from the fact that he was calling me in the first place, struck a cord of curiosity within me. I returned his call when on my first day off. It was then that he asked me if I would be interested in being his dance partner. He went on to explain that he had a friend who taught swing and his friend had offered to give him and some friends a few lessons. I accepted his offer with the exception that he call me soon with more deals about when, where, etc.

A few days later he called me with the time and place of our first lesson. He also had gone so far as to find out what kind of footwear I should bring with me for the lesson. Our first lesson was at one of his co-worker's house. She being the owner of a beautifully large house with hardwood floors made for the perfect setting. I drove to Steve's house amidst a fairly bad thunderstorm, and arrived to class soaked to the bone. Yet despite the fact that I was miserable until I dried off, I had so much fun.

Our instructor, John, later informed us that in fact we were not dancing swing but sarok (sp?) which is French for "let's rock." But as if that was not cool enough he continued and told us that the dance steps he was teaching us were the actual dance steps from the original Dirty Dancing movie! Yeah buddy! But really the icing on the cake came later in the night when we had learned all the dance moves and then I danced some free style with the instructor, who insisted all night that I had to have taken dance or ballet at some time in my life, because I was just too good to be a beginner. Funny thing is that I warned the whole class before we started. I very casually informed everyone that I can barely walk without falling on my face. I just didn't want anyone to be too surprised when I fell smack on my face. But really I was so tickled with myself that I did so well. For now I'm waiting for Steve to call me with the date for our next lesson.

Today I managed to get myself to church. I have not been in about a month and a half. I've been taking on a lot of weekend hours at the hospital which really doesn't allow me to get there. But I had about 3 tithe checks that really needed to be handed in and it bothered me so much that I was at the point that even if I was ill I was going to make it this week.

I set my alarm so that I could make it to the second service at Collegedale Community, but then when it went off I felt so tired that I reset my alarm and decided that I would make it to the third service just fine. Once awake, I opened the closet door with a sigh. I hate picking something to wear to church. I either feel under dressed or over dressed or just self conscious - is this skirt too short, is this shirt too revealing? So I just grabbed the first thing I saw which was my brown dress with the flowers on it. I had just bought some new brown Steve Maddens, the very ones that I worn for dance class, and thought those would set the outfit off and I'd look just fine.

While getting dressed my Silvias were going off. (Silvias really being a jest towards those TV psychics with the funny commercials, but we use the term at work when we have a "feeling" about something.) I had a feeling I was going to see certain people at church, people that I have not seen in a long time. But really my Silvias are something I just shrug off. I'm never really that on top of things to be right about my gut feels, or wherever the feeling is coming from.

On my way to church some man in an F150 cut in front of me without using his turn signal, which I let him know I was ticked by honking Bianca's horn, to which he flipped me off! I quickly lost any and all respect for him, said a prayer for me not to allow his ignorance to ruin my Sabbath, sped up and passed him, never looking back.

I arrived a little early so just stood in the cool of the vestibule till the previous service was over. After a few minutes of reading over the bulletin I looked to see a man walking towards me saying, in an African accent, "I think I know this lady over here. . ." To my surprise it was Dr. Gullo my A&P teacher from my Freshman year at SAU. He always calls me Patricia and gives me a hug and then a nice firm hand shake, one of the best I have ever had in my life. We laughed and chatted. I always run into him at the craziest times and places. He asked about Dolly, as most people do, and I told him that she had graduated and was still in Poland. He told me that I should learn some Poland and call her and leave her a message in Polish. He thought that was a funny idea. Silly man. But the best part is when he introduces me to his kids, whom I already know. His one daughter being, Mufassa. . .say it again! (Sorry I couldn't resist. . .)

But really the best part of the whole day was seeing LVG, which is the person that my Silvias was telling me I was going to see. As I filed into the sanctuary, there was a line filing out, and when I looked up there he was. I grabbed him and told him that I had a feeling I was going to see him, to which he responded with the question as to whether I received his text message telling me he was going to be there. I later found out that he had sent the message to the wrong phone and I never got it. Good thing my Silvias were turned on that AM!

We chatted and caught up on a number of things. Come to find out that he is leaving in January to go back to school in Canada with his girlfriend. The whole idea just breaks my heart, not merely because I never get to see him now as it is, but because I really won't get to see him if he goes that far away. But more than that is just who he is as a person. There are guys that I know who are nice, but the word "nice" is just that, nice. It is nothing special and really implies nothing special. Thus I guess what I am trying to say is that those guys who are really wonderful are just so few and far between that I can't bear to see one leave my presence. It's just such a rarity. LVG is one of those guys. Knock-your-socks-off wonderful. I just hope that the person he is with appreciates him as much as those of us who only have the privilege of being his friend.