George Skokan

Some days I can’t even think clearly in English, let alone Spanish. When I’m tired or have had a couple drinks my ability to speak decreases. But more and more I engage in conversations in Spanish. One of my friends said why bother to know any other language than English, but another language is like opening doors to another world!!

Regularly I’ve heard that the Samba is one of the most difficult dances to learn. At the same time I hear that Swing is not too terribly difficult. Maybe it’s the skill level of the combinations, but I’m finding the Samba we’re being taught is easier for me to pick up than the swing – same instructor. Of course if he starts hitting us with some really difficult things in Samba, I’ll write a retraction. Haven’t had any private lessons for a few weeks; Everyone’s schedule seems to be impacted by somethng or other.

We started doing Polka and Cowboy or Texas Two Step, and it’s necessary in order to be able go to a variety of dance environments, but my interest is more and more in refining and developing my Waltz skills. Rumba is also attracting me. Both are so dreamy and melodious that I start losing myself in the music, but not enough to have an accident on the dance floor.

I had the ambition, but for the last couple of weeks the evenings were dark and cloudy with lightning flashes, thunder and heavy rain. The lightning was what really stopped me. Monday a lightning strike resulted in no power from about 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM, and when I got home today the power was off. The clock on the kitchen stove suggested it had gone off at 3:30 PM, but two electric clocks in other rooms said 12:25 PM, and that makes for a more dramatic story. Anyway, yesterday the weather was OK so I took the dogs for their walk, and then today with the power off, and nothing else to do, I took them again. The three of us enjoyed the walks both days. (Three of us = me plus two dogs.)

This is not one of those projects I will complete, like going on a trip somewhere, but this is something I should do regularly.