Trottin' the Fox

This past Tuesday night, Mark and I started our ballroom dance class...again...
The Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District (or THPRD as it is called)offers a huge variety of classes and workshops dealing with fitness and health, especially recreation...the classes are very reasonably priced if you live within the district so we have, on occasion, taken advantage of a few different activities...
So, last October, as I was leafing through the course catalog I noticed a beginning ballroom dance class...10 classes for $80 (per couple of course.) I signed us up and we were off and hoofing...The classes are held at the Cedar Hills Recreation Center, which in a former incarnation was the very exact Cedar Hills Elementary School that Donald H. Berg attended as an eager young student.... Yup, THAT Don Berg...the school is now a rec center with a couple of classrooms opened up into a couple of "studios" with nice floors for dancin'...We weren't the best dancers, but we certainly weren't the worst...Unfortunately, we had to drop out a few weeks early for "personal, medical reasons" (A little snicker to myself...I've always wanted to use that phrase...just like a public figure, or celebrity or somethin').
ANYWAY! My THPRD membership card "expired" this month...since it costs nothing to get a card, or to renew a card, I think it's funny that it can "expire." Actually it's just their method of making sure you still live in the district boundaries...cuz you get to pay more for classes if you don't live "in-district."
A couple of weeks ago I stopped by the Conestoga Swim Center after attending a Southridge High School JV Volleyball game next door (you know, my continuing effort to de-hermitise)to renew my card and the nice girl asked me did I want to sign up for any classes?? No, I said...then...Wait!!! Do they have any spaces left in the ballroom dance class??? She clickity clicked on the computer...why, yes...there's lots of room, she said...Sign me up! I said...I paid my money and hoped that Mark was free on Tuesday nights...and just like that, Fred and Ginger are back in bid-ness...
Our teachers, Clark and Rita, are very nice....We were surprised at how quickly we remembered the things we learned last year...Mainly, we remembered that Clark fancies himself quite the comedian, and we are all best served to nod and smile at his lame attempts at humor so he will move on....he is a master at "I can wait..." while the group catches on to the pun or quip...or....just whatever........this time, we were quick to nod or smile...and thus maintained our status of Teacher's Pets....
Plus, none of the other couples knew we had taken the class before, so they were all secretly admiring how quickly we picked up the steps and routine...not to mention that we were the ONLY couple (besides the teachers) with our own Dance Shoes....oh, yes...we have our own shoes...and, much like bowling, you can tell the serious dancers by their shoes...
We had a really good time brushing up on The Fox Trot basics and are looking forward to next week ...adding turns and a spin...slow, slow...quick, quick.
There's just one problem...as with most dance studios, one entire wall is covered with mirrors...and some fat lady keeps getting in the way every time I try to get a glimpse of myself....don't know who she is, but she's fast.........she's really annoying to look at...except for the cute glasses...

RAH, RAH, RAH...SIS BOOM BAH!

Last night, as part of my new effort to de-hermitise, we went to a football game. Beaverton's Southridge HS pitted against Portland's Grant HS...the "Skyhawks" versus the "Generals."

Most of our friends live within the boundaries for Southridge, unlike our own personal high school experience at Aloha HS (pronounced Uh-LOW-Uh...not at all the Hi-wian greeting) for Chanel, and Beverton High for Geoff...in fact, when Geoff was in school, Southridge was his arch rival...except that because we lived barely outside the school boundaries, most of his best friends were at Southridge, so he wasn't toooo arch rival-ish...fortunately for Chanel, Southridge didn't even exist when she was in school....ANYWAY! I hadn't been to a Friday night football game for a very long time...since the days of Bucky Beaver! I just love the energy and excitement they generate...the kids are all riled up, tho few of them actually watch the game, as they are too busy playing their own game of socializing...but there is just nothing quite like it...a phenomonom like very few others...maybe it's the marching band that stirs me...

A lot of our friends still have kids at Southridge, so they sort of HAVE to go to the games, but they are, every one, the kinds of parents that wouldn't miss a single minute of what their kids are involved in.....and boy, are they involved!You name it, we know 'em...Carrying the offense is Mitch Matthews, hot on defense is Kyle Rose, Peppiest cheerleader Hillary McDermott, Drum Major Tommy Williams, Spiritmonger (student body VP)McKay Garrett, and middleschooler ball boy Cody Graham
Now, I know these names only mean something to me, but when I am ninety years old, and can't remember who belonged to whom....and believe me, it happens a lot already...re-reading these names will bring wonderful memories into focus.

It couldn't have been a more perfect night to be out under the stadium lights...it was the sort of day you wish every autumn day could be...clear and warm with just the hint of fall in the turning leaves and early sundown...we sat out on TOP of our stadium blankets, not huddled UNDER them...no coats, jackets, umbrellas or tarps which are the normal accessories for outdoor football in Oregon...

Well, a fan is a fan, is a fan, is a fan....I love watching football, no two ways about it...and I get excited...so it should come as no surprise to anyone that even though the final outcome of the game didn't favor the Skyhawks, it wasn't because I didn't root for them every play, every down, every call! Who can stay seated when exciting things are happening on the field? Who can keep from yelling and cheering and hootin' and hollerin' when the action is revving up.....well, apparently not me!
This did not go un-noticed by two "band moms" sitting behind us...women we had never met....midway through the first half they leaned down and asked us "who is your player?????" uhh..OUR player?..."All of them" I said...."Which on is your family?" one asked... "Oh! None of them," I said..."REALLY???" she said...."Yup, we just like them all..." They seemed more than a little surprised as they complimented us on our "enthusiasm" and noted our strong vocal support of the home team, our "encouragement" of additional training for the ref's and even our well meaning suggestions for the opposing team....bless their hearts for noticing!

Well, in the end the Grant Generals marched all over the Skyhawks...24 to 14...but, hey, it could have been worse...the Hawks didn't execute to their potential, and after, all, Grant is rated number 4 in the Metro League...they ain't no slouches! For me, it didn't really matter who had the higher score at the end...
I just loved being out in the great atmosphere of camaraderie and support...the company of family, friends, fun, and free tickets....
The season is young, and we're looking forward to next week's game...I think they're saving our seats! In the meantime,

Lean to the Left, Lean to the Right....Stand Up, Sit Down.....
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!!!