392 Family: May 2005 Archives

I went to a dance with Jeannie last Saturday night. Other than the dances sponsored by the health club, where I took my dance lessons five years ago, this is the first dance I've attended since high school.

It was swing dance held in an airplane hangar containing vintage aircraft. It was Forties themed and lots of people showed up in vintage clothing and army or navy uniforms. It was fun just to dance with a live fourteen piece orchestra. I also enjoyed watching the couples who were really good at dancing. I couldn't believe how smooth people were when performing really complicated moves.

People always like to suggest that dancing is a lot like human relationships. I supposed it is. I got my foot stepped on, I forgot more moves than I remembered, we got out of rhythm, at least once I spun my partner a little too hard in the wrong direction, my partner tried to lead, I led poorly on occasion and I got too sweaty at least once. When it was good, for a microsecond it felt like two people moving as one. Yup, sounds vaguely like marriage to me. I wish I was good at it. I know ... practice, practice, practice.

I have small children and I'm at an age where a lot of my friends have small children or are pregnant. Although my friends span the political spectrum, I hope everyone agrees that some things are simply unjust and should not be.

For instance, take a look at the Children's Drawings from Darfur gathered by Human Rights Watch.

The heart break in the world can seem unbearable if you really look hard enough. Mostly it's easier to look somewhere else.

[Link courtesy of Jan Bros.]