FiftyBogue

I’ve been doing contra dance for some time, and have had some interesting thoughts about special dances I’d like to try. One is, of course, the X-Treme Contra, done in the dark with glowing bracelets and necklaces, and the one where everyone wears animal slippers. The one I told the most folks about was the all-black dance, which I have always thought would be done in my honor when I die.

Last year, our dance council started talking about having a free dance to thank our wonderful dance community for their devotion over the years, and I had also been talking about my “memorial” dance idea. Our council chair, Linda, said, “Hey – aren’t you turning 50 next year? Why don’t we combine these ideas and have the LB Memorial Contra dance?” So we did. I hired the band and caller, and the council paid for the hall, and we promoted it by saying that anyone who wore all black would get in free. I also bought maybe 20 articles of black clothing from thrift stores, in case someone showed up who didn’t know (it was one of our regular dances, after all, and there would be beginners) and wanted to change clothes.

And what an awesome night! We had the biggest turnout ever. I think we had 104 dancers, and 90% of them wearing black! Free pays off, doesn’t it? Everyone also took the opportunity to wish me well, and were willing to listen to my nearly-weepy halftime “what contra dance means to me” speech, and it was altogether the most fun dance EVER!

The band and Jim, the caller, gave it their all and it was a wonderful time. Afterwards, we had a party at a nearby clubhouse with wonderful chocolate cake ever, an oddly dirge-like birthday song, and another round of too much champagne. Otis brought the massage chair, so I got yet another massage.

To recap the fabulous birthday weekend:

• hot stone massage/lunch/latte/reading/shopping
• greeting loved ones with presents
• very fun party/dinner/games
• art museum/lunch/dance/party
• pancake breakfast/talking with friends/movie with my sweetie
• latte/lunch/shopping/hot tub/pedicure/movie

Is that not the perfect long weekend? I’m blessed with friends, family, love and fun! I’m already enjoying the 2nd fifty years!