About 2 years ago, I was sitting with a coworker who was 74 years old and we were chatting about life.  I looked her and said, “I’m so blessed; I have the best friends and the best life right now, I couldn’t be happier!”  and she didn’t miss a beat or even take a breath when she said, “Oh trust me….this too, shall pass!!”

I sat with my jaw to the floor.  She basically said my happiness wouldn’t last.

Usually, that phrase is solace for those going through tough times.  But not good times.  I didn’t know what to say.  Because as I looked at her and realized she’d spent 74 years on this earth; her wisdom was impossible to dispute.  She’d lived a number of lifetimes; raised kids and had grandkids.  I’m thinkin’ she knew what she was talking about.

And as life would have it; things changed.

Shortly after that conversation; dance took over our lives.  Kids got older and schedules became impossible to coordinate.

It’s the growing pangs of life.

As this Halloween rolls around, there aren’t a lot of parties going on.  At least not in ‘my’ circle.  Or shall I call it my ‘new’ circle.

Those of us with dancers  have schedules that rule our lives.  Parties are few and far between and if you are invited to one; it’s like a dance family.

I didn’t plan this, nor am I complaining.  I love my dance family tremendously.  I feel like an adjunct mom to hundreds of kids who are actually happy to see me.  But I miss my ‘school’ friends.  I miss the parties we used to have and I miss hanging out with them.   Is that so bad?

So, why don’t I throw a shindig, you ask?  Well….my house isn’t ‘party ready’.  And hasn’t been for years.  I’m too tired to have the inclination to clean the house to “white glove’ ready.  But as I sat last night listening to the multitude of parties going on around my neighborhood, I was half inclined to get started…….until I spied a Nutcracker Tutu in the corner that is a little more pressing than a Halloween party.

Such is the life of a dancer family.  As I looked on Facebook last night (feeling a little pathetic, I admit), I noticed that most of the others that were available on chat were my dancer friends.  Totally not surprised as most of us spent 8 hours at the studio doing various jobs.

Life does change as we get older.  But I am reminded by my closest friends that if we truly want something, we will make the effort to keep our “loves” in check.  Just because you have to change your relationship with the ‘old’ doesn’t mean you have to ditch it altogether; especially if it means so much to you.  It just means you have to duck and weave a little more to stay in touch.

I’ve mentioned before that I started volunteering back at the elementary school; and that’s been fun.  It’s a small start to getting back into it all.  I definitely appreciate it more having been absent the last few years.  But I do feel how much it changed as well.  And with that my heart hurt a little bit.  But at least I know I’m heading in the right direction.

Sometimes things change so fast that we don’t realize it until we ‘wake up’ one day.

Well, I would like to consider myself awake now.  And though things will never be like they used to; they can be a better version of something new, which is just fine with me.  No matter the good or the bad, “This too shall pass”.   Just be careful what you choose to let go of.

Happy Sunday!