The night I danced just because

My fourteen year old wanted to melt into the sidewalk. Her eyes as big  as platters. How she thought. could my mother sink this low? What in heaven's name makes her behave in such an absurd manner and in public no less.

She was totally at a loss of words while I was anything but in a loss for moves. And so I danced with an unsuspecting young man who just happened to cross my path. Out of nowhere I came from the shadows...and we danced. Why you ask would he stop and dance with a crazy lady he never met? Yet we danced. Just for a brief few moments we danced. We laughed. We broke a move. For a moment  we forgot all our troubles. Strangers on the sidewalk, we let loose.  Never a single word spoken until in the end I said thank you and he said in turn you are welcome.

---

Had he asked, I could have told him that that night I had danced to keep from crying. I could have told him about my major contract that was canceled that day, or about a long discussion I had with a close friend in a troubled marriage. I could have spoken about my heavy heart, my loathing concerning broken promises and selfish acts. I could have told him that this day would have been my mother's 69th birthday had she lived to see it.  But instead I danced, we danced!

I dream a dream that one night, many nights from this one my daughter will find her "just because" dance inside her. That she will find her dance when she most needs it and that she too will choose to just dance!