Thursday, September 19, 2013 - Elephantine mommas can dance!
Actually, this is not completely true. Circus elephants only dance because they don’t have a choice. But you and I do. Let’s dance to help elephants!
This must sound like I’ve been seeing pink elephants. Nah. My crazy ideas happen when I have a second cup of coffee. But let me backtrack, before I move forward. (And incidentally, elephants can walk backwards too.)
As you may know, I love to dance. Am I good at it? No, but I never let lack of talent stop me. What has stopped me is lack of opportunity – I’ve only gone dancing twice in the last five years. Once at Anna’s and Neal’s wedding, and once at our Senior’s trailer park in Arizona.
South End Curves introduced Zumba a year or so ago and, initially, I was hesitant. I would have to follow directions. But I took a class, had lots of fun, and decided I didn’t care if I followed Valerie, our fearless leader, exactly. All that mattered was that I moved my hands and feet around, and had FUN.
I have no idea why I really decided to take the Basic Zumba Instructor’s Course. Maybe my plan was this. I could take the Basic Zumba Instructor’s course, get passable by doing Zumba more frequently, and then take instruction in Zumba Gold (aka Zumba Granny.) I could then teach it to other women who weren’t exactly Margo Fontaine.
*****
First Zumba course completed – check. Now the rubber insole is about to hit the gym floor. I’m going to have to participate in numerous and challenging Zumba classes. Egad! What have I done?! Ah well.
And what about the elephants?
I’m getting there. Once I can follow an hour of dancing and invent a few steps of my own, that’s when I will let myself take Zumba Gold. Right now it feels like a five year plan. And once I can lead Zumba Grannie, I will offer to teach an intro class by a donation-to-a-good-cause.
What’s the good cause? Well, for $50 my lady friends and I can sponsor a baby elephant. Give a presentation to one or two church women’s groups and request a coin collection, and trada – Eleanor the Elephant (the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust actually has an elephant named Eleanor) will have a new extended family.
It’s all good. I get an incentive to keep Zumba-ing, the ladies get a pretty good show for a handful of change, the elephants get prayed for, and all of us get regular Ellie updates.
Sound a little crazy to you? I admit it is. But so is taking a Zumba Instructor’s Course when you are 56. Why don’t I want to dance for dogs or cumbia for cats? The best thing about partying for orphaned pachyderms is that there is no way I can bring the unadopted ones home.
This must sound like I’ve been seeing pink elephants. Nah. My crazy ideas happen when I have a second cup of coffee. But let me backtrack, before I move forward. (And incidentally, elephants can walk backwards too.)
As you may know, I love to dance. Am I good at it? No, but I never let lack of talent stop me. What has stopped me is lack of opportunity – I’ve only gone dancing twice in the last five years. Once at Anna’s and Neal’s wedding, and once at our Senior’s trailer park in Arizona.
South End Curves introduced Zumba a year or so ago and, initially, I was hesitant. I would have to follow directions. But I took a class, had lots of fun, and decided I didn’t care if I followed Valerie, our fearless leader, exactly. All that mattered was that I moved my hands and feet around, and had FUN.
I have no idea why I really decided to take the Basic Zumba Instructor’s Course. Maybe my plan was this. I could take the Basic Zumba Instructor’s course, get passable by doing Zumba more frequently, and then take instruction in Zumba Gold (aka Zumba Granny.) I could then teach it to other women who weren’t exactly Margo Fontaine.
*****
First Zumba course completed – check. Now the rubber insole is about to hit the gym floor. I’m going to have to participate in numerous and challenging Zumba classes. Egad! What have I done?! Ah well.
And what about the elephants?
I’m getting there. Once I can follow an hour of dancing and invent a few steps of my own, that’s when I will let myself take Zumba Gold. Right now it feels like a five year plan. And once I can lead Zumba Grannie, I will offer to teach an intro class by a donation-to-a-good-cause.
What’s the good cause? Well, for $50 my lady friends and I can sponsor a baby elephant. Give a presentation to one or two church women’s groups and request a coin collection, and trada – Eleanor the Elephant (the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust actually has an elephant named Eleanor) will have a new extended family.
It’s all good. I get an incentive to keep Zumba-ing, the ladies get a pretty good show for a handful of change, the elephants get prayed for, and all of us get regular Ellie updates.
Sound a little crazy to you? I admit it is. But so is taking a Zumba Instructor’s Course when you are 56. Why don’t I want to dance for dogs or cumbia for cats? The best thing about partying for orphaned pachyderms is that there is no way I can bring the unadopted ones home.