There is Magic in...

Inspiration and magic comes in many forms,

it seems!

Even doing something we shouldn't...?

When I created a design a while back

during my abstract funky art stage,

of an awkwardly shaped character

it read, "Can't dance, don't care,

dancing anyways!"

not until, recently did I

have a chance to prove

the validity of that theory!

I think we should all

have at least one friend,

(and if we are lucky, more than one)

who makes us do things,

we didn't even know we wanted to do.

Like getting in a very tippy narrow canoe,

to ride the ocean waves for 12 miles,

all the while,

knowing you can't swim (well)

and really shouldn't be doing it at all!

Or snorkeling in deep

"I can't touch the bottom" water!

But, if we hadn't... we wouldn't have

glided with the turtles or

got wet or had that great ride

or any of the experiences of a lifetime

that occur in moments like those!

With so many challenges lately,

saying yes, to "new things"

has become a way to redirect my energy!

At our paddling clubs' birthday party,

this past summer,

someone knew all the moves to Thriller

and we all wanted to learn.

So when the newspaper announced last month,

there would be dance lessons for it

and then would be performed

on Halloween night...

my "you'll-love-paddling-in-the-ocean"

friend asked, "what do you think?"

I responded with "absolutely, lets do it!"

Course, wasn't so sure about that

for the following three weeks,

trying to just have fun...like Marlo,

the instructor said!

After the dress rehearsal performance

not only did the "FUN" happen

so did the MAGIC, she spoke of.

Course, I had been secretly hoping that

"the magic" would mean

someone else would miraculously

take over my feet and I would be

brilliant at all the moves...but, sigh!

(Not quite, not even close.)

We performed 6 times the night

before Halloween and seven that night.

A full moon came up over a main street

the crowd was ten deep and waiting

and cheering and applauding.

It was terrifically, exhilarating!!

Being zombies, we weren't suppose to smile

but it was hard not to!

The magic was in the energy,

in recconnecting with old friends

and making new ones,

(like, dancing next to the woman

who works at Safeway,

someone I always saw, but never knew.)

The music was magic,

the little kids were magic,

(who on the recorded version look amazing!)

The performance as a whole,

a big WOW dose of magic!

Watching Marlo,

make her hearts' dream happen

without a glitch or hitch,

while giving everyone an opportunity

to be a part of something large

and wonderful and successful.

...was magic!

(And maybe it is also in being inspired

to do something

that I CAN do well, like draw...

and create little Thriller Wild Women...

as a thank you gift!)

And there is magic in

the way we felt the next morning,

knowing we did something

we never dreamed possible

and although, I still "can't really dance

and I happen, to care that I can't...

(Finally, making less than five mistakes

by the last performance.)

...I tried!

And that too has magic!

As we float threw the following days

on this "thrilling" energy,

I am relieved,

when my friend reassures me,

that she isn't interested

in ever jumping out of an airplane

whew...!

cause, I am certain,

I would say NO to that!

Pam Piper Rain

Photo by "Eddorazzi"