Shortcuts to happiness.

"There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them." 

-Vicki Baum

On Friday, Josh and I joined our friend Betty for a night of dancing with her friends.  Betty is a very special lady and a very close friend of ours.  Every few months, we join her for a cup of tea and some lively conversation.  She is an 87 year old treasure and despite her small stature, a huge inspiration for me.

Josh and I went dancing with Betty and her friends for the first time just a couple of months after he and I began dating in 2007.  Despite the fact that we were falling very much in love, we really had no idea where our relationship was taking us at the time.  Interestingly enough, I posted this next picture on facebook on what would turn out to be the night before our wedding one year later.  Ohhh hindsight, what a fun thing you are to ponder.

Last Friday night was even more enjoyable than our first experience, though, because not only has our friendship with Betty grown exponentially over the last three years, but we are much more confident and comfortable with each other now. (I would hope so!) We were also quite eager to spend time having fun with Betty instead of just talking, and looked forward to getting to know her friends who are each so important to her!

Betty enjoying herself :)

Josh and Betty have a really great connection.  I completely fell in love with him all over again and admired the man that he is as he whisked Betty across the dance floor to several songs.  She enjoyed it so much she even said to me, "It's one thing to be dancing with a handsome young man, it's another thing to have all of the women in the room jealous of me because I'm dancing with a handsome, young man!".  Throughout the evening, I found myself repeatedly pondering the heart of femininity. Every woman there was dressed so intentionally, so carefully for their 'night out'. They were wearing make-up, dancing shoes, cute outfits, matching jewelry, and a few even had glitter in their hair.  As a friend of Betty's urgently whispered to her, "Betty, come with me to the ladies room!" I began to wonder that perhaps a woman wants to feel and be treated like a lady no matter what her age is.  I'm not sure a desire like that could possibly fade with time, and there is something so fiercely feminine... so ladylike and magical about being swept across a dance floor by a handsome man.  No wonder so many drive so far to experience it every week.

We met people who drive over an hour every week to attend these weekly dancing events.  The dance hall they gather in is literally in the middle of no where, and yet they have still formed quite the crew of dancers with over 50 people present!

I couldn't stop smiling the entire time we were there. We had so much fun and everyone was so welcoming.  We were a little concerned we would be viewed as 'outsiders' because we had only been there once before and were the youngest dancers by 40+ years, but of course, we were only met with kindness and acceptance.  It was such a strong reminder that as people age, they grow in wisdom and things like petty-ness and 'inclusivity' are often not friends of the elderly.  In a similar setting with a group of young people, there may have been a temptation to shun or feel threatened by a new couple.  However, a group of seniors knows that life is short and every new friend is a welcome one.

This Friday is their last night of dancing until March, and I'm not sure if we'll be able to make it back before we head overseas.  Perhaps we'll return in another three years, with a toddler in tow? A little one who will bring the average age of attendance down considerably, and will make an already sweet memory completely priceless.  Just imagining it brings so much joy to my heart!  Either way, last Friday night was a wonderful memory to make together; one that I will cherish forever!