long week, terrific community event

Last night, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of dancing together in Jamaica Plain with an afternoon advanced contra dance (and an outstanding snack break), followed by dinner (potluck)and movies (of dancers from 17 years ago), followed by a regular dance, including an outstanding dessert potluck. Oh my. We had three bands, five or six callers, and hordes of dancers, more than I've ever seen in the hall before. We had decorations and table cloths, and a lot of joyous people. The dancing was wonderful, even at one point when I lost my partner and ended up with someone else and a third person on the sidelines tried to have a conversation with me while I was trying to get my new partner going. (The conversation lost out.)

Some of the dancers came from New York (upstate and city), Vermont, and Maine. I chatted with a lot of people, including one friend who came up from Philadelphia and mentioned that he's hoping to move to our area, mostly because he's so amazed by the community we have formed and held on to. (And I'm so glad; he'll be a great addition to our group; we usually see him only at dance camp.) I talked to another man who is a public-interest lawyer working for prisoner rights. Long ago, he was a corporate lawyer, then dropped out and went to Mexico, worked in an AIDS hospice, and then went to Divinity School in Massachusetts before stumbling into his current job. He knows that the state funding cuts will probably affect his job and he's looking forward to the next door opening, the next adventure.

I had the privilege of dancing with a friend who's having arthritis-like trouble in her shoulders; we decided to lock eyes instead of arms and fairly sizzled up and down the set. Another friend just had elbow surgery (ouch ouch ouch) and is in a sling and cast. We figured out how to dance together and the beaming smile on his face was priceless.

Somehow an older male-female couple stumbled into the afternoon dance. I think they found us on the internet. They were very friendly when I greeted them. They told me they were VERY OLD. 80. Not so old, or at least they wear it well. Then they told me they were straight (in case I was confused?). I told them we were all delighted they were there and I hoped they felt welcome. (I mentioned the "straight" line to my mother today; she said "I guess we all feel that we have deficiencies.")

A sad note re the woman, M, I mentioned a while back who's sick. I spoke to her cousin yesterday (thank you JT) who said that M is doing very poorly and is still refusing visitors. I hope that M remains comfortable and is able to have many loving moments with her beloved husband.

On Thursday, my mother had fairly serious surgery -- a hip replacement. She is doing very well in part one of her recovery. Today she graduated to rehab. I imagine they'll work her pretty hard for the next week. I can't very well manage things from up here, but fortunately, she has a lot of help and caring people looking after her while she's hospitalized. (I did ask if she wanted me to come down for the surgery and she said no.) And fortunately, everything's going right so far. I am trying as best I can to act as spokesperson, sending out messages when news warrants. And next week I'll go down as she's being released from rehab. I hope to spend a few days getting her set up, doing a little cooking, perhaps scheduling friends for visits.

And on Tuesday, oh my. Will we soon forget the amazing inauguration? The costumes alone -- Aretha's hat, Michelle's dress -- were lovely. I was taken with Obama's speech even though a lot of people were not. I thought it well-spoken, well thought-out, and appropriately serious. I wish him well. Actually, I wish us all well in the next four years. Should be an interesting ride. I am very hopeful.