Tap Dancing on Carpet

A desire for something new, something fun, something for exercise other than my squeaking, old treadmill brought me to tap dancing, of all things. I have never danced in my life. Well, ballet lessons for six months when I was so little that I was much more enamored with the poofy tutu skirt than the actual dance positions. Hated school dances where I towered over potential partners. Still dread the obligatory cha cha slide at weddings - why can’t I get it?? Children are doing it, for god’s sake! But I figured tap dancing in my home couldn’t be that bad. No one to see me! Just me and shiny shoes and a few YouTube lessons to get my heart pumping. Mirror avoidance was a given.

The tap shoes arrived. I yanked on my leggings and slipped on the shiny, cute shoes with bows. Comfortable fit. Clicked on the way to the living room - what a fun sound! - turned on YouTube. Ready to tap! 

...Wait a minute! Aren’t you supposed to hear tapping? My carpeted living room was not giving me the desired effect. Where to go? I have some wood floors but didn’t want dings and scrapes all over them. The bathroom has a tile floor but I could go deaf. Okay - is sound really important? Couldn’t I just be a tap dancer without sounding like one? Ball, heel, shuffle, shuffle. Ball, heel, shuffle, shuffle. Very slowly, very, very quietly. The treadmill was looking more and more attractive. Yes - this is ridiculous, pointless, barely exercise the way I was doing it. Yes, I didn’t think this through. No, I won’t be sticking with this. Maybe wear tap shoes while I clean the house? Do they make poofy skirted tutus for big gals?

So it occurred to me this is a recurring theme in my life - best laid plans gone awry. But rather than being angry, or defensive, or despondent, I choose to laugh - at myself, at life - because it’s much more fun. Because laugh lines are beautiful. Maybe you have had similar experiences? Please share!