Dancing...and falling off chairs

Tonight's the night…U Mass Boston, "Dancing With the Stars of Boston". (No, I do not consider myself a "star." I'm a mom and a DJ). But, it's a charity event so no matter how it goes out there in front of who knows how many people, it'll be benefiting the community. That being said, what in the hell was I thinking? I am so far out of my comfort zone. I do love to dance; rock shows, clubs, at home, at work, but this kind of dancing is nothing like that. My partner and I are doing a "lyrical pop" dance. Huh? When I first met the young man assigned to teach me the steps, he described the dance as a very graceful, feminine number. I almost fell off the chair in laughter.



My mother, who just recently said to me "you were a tomboy when you were younger" (duh) would be proud. Climbing trees, loud rock and roll, jeans and t-shirts. She always wanted me to be more feminine, more "girlie." I remember one time in high school, she bought me a new pair of jeans and threw my old, ripped, patched jeans in the trash. I dug them out and we had a scream filled tug-of-war with the old jeans in the kitchen. I never did wear the new ones.



Please understand, I am a female and enjoy being a female; I'm just not that into clothes, the latest styles, getting manicured, pedicured, changing hair styles & colors and if I had my way I'd STILL be in patched jeans and black rock & roll t-shirts. But, little girls grow up and tonight feels like the prom I never went to.



I'm a high school drop out and even if I had gone back my senior year, doubtful I would have gone to the prom as I would have had to wear some sparkly dress and put my hair up and "behave like a lady" as my mom used to say. I've even recently painted my bedroom a lovely shade of pale pink. What is happening to me!! And boy do I have a whole new respect for the "stars" on that television show "Dancing with the Stars". It's no easy task learning the steps and who knew I was so out of shape!!! I especially want to thank Jason Chou, my dance teacher and partner this evening, for his patience, encouragement and perseverance...and for taking me from crayons to perfume. With every move, he reminded me "think gracefully" as I would thunk down on the floor. I wonder if the cha cha would have been easier. I'll have to ask Oil Can.