DANCE LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING!

Today I played tourist with some friends. We drove to San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Sausalito. It was a gorgeous day and about 70 degrees. Julie's family was in from out of town and she planned a great day, our weather accommodating us beautifully. We took the ferry into SF and walked a good mile and a half to Fisherman's Wharf. Enjoying the unending parade of characters one sees in SF. We all had sea food: crab cakes, calamari, or clam chowder soup in a bread bowl. Now we had to find a bench to enjoy our food.

My highlight of the day was sitting near a SF musician playing some oldies - old rock songs I can't remember all the names, a wonderful old Marvin Gaye song, and my favorite "Happy" by Pharrrell Williams! I could not sit still, and had to get up and dance. When the music moves me I am totally uninhibited dancing! Happy is the most liberating, fun, exhilarating song ever - at least for me. The words can't help but make you happy, but the beat is also wonderful. With all the videos of people  dancing to his song, it's no wonder that song moves most people to just get up and dance. It's a long song and I was happy he kept true to the length. In the beginning there were only about 4 of us dancing, and by the end many joined in. I was in my element, I was like a kid in a candy store. I had the biggest smile on my face, throwing caution to the wind, I moved and grooved, did a little partner dancing with one of the men there, danced by myself and simply had the best time ever....and danced like no ones watching!! As I write these words, I can still feel the pure, unadulterated joy, I felt then. The crazy thing is when I came home I was tired. But thinking about my day and now writing about the music and dancing, I'm not tired and wish I could dance some more - right now!

Dancing to music that really moves me is a feeling like nothing else in the world. And today it was a gift, an unexpected gift out of nowhere. I am very grateful for gifts like these. As we were walking away, I received another gift. A young guy came up to me and said "You are such a good dancer." And I said, Oh, thank you so much! I love to dance! That made my day - dancing and then getting a compliment from a cute 30 something! Can we go to SF again tomorrow??

Good night, and God Bless!   Aleta


"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching!"   - Satchel Paige