I have to say, when I received an email from my parents today that included more than a dozen photos of their tap dancing recital, I had to smile. I love the fact that as retirees, my parents are still having fun with each other. Back in the ’70s, they could do a mean hustle and I remember watching them take over the dance floor with their fancy footwork.
Now, more than thirty years later, while I can’t waltz, mambo, or merengue, my parents can do all of the above and have now added tap dancing to their repertoire. In fact, a few weeks ago, they entertained a standing room only crowd at the Southampton Library and judging from the photos, they had a fabulous time.
As a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts, my father has always been an actor at heart. While he pursued a successful career in education, Dad has consistently appeared in musicals for as long as I can remember. In fact, each spring, he has a featured role in the Palm Isle Players musical extravaganza in Boynton Beach, Florida led by my former dance teacher, Ms. Phyllis.
While I usually sit through the rehearsal, I’m always blown away watching a cast of more than fifty men and women step out on stage wearing some of the most gorgeous costumes I’ve ever seen. But aside from Dad’s solos, of course, my favorite parts of the show are when I get to watch those carefully choreographed numbers that feature a senior citizen kick line who rehearse several times a week to perfect those intricate moves.
I love the fact that while my dad has always felt at home on the stage, my mom has stood on the sidelines cheering him on. That is, until now. With they’re tap dance performance under their belts, perhaps mom will throw caution to the wind and take center stage as a Palm Isle kick line girl. Either way, mom and dad have embraced their golden years while finding things they know will give them great joy. Whoever said retirement was depressing has never met my parents.
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