And the Dance goes on...

So I'd danced the basic education dance and did OK.... well enough to go to University . But a stubborn as I am now I guess I was even more stubborn then – no way was I going to do the obvious . NO THANKS. I got myself a job well the intention was to study the following academic year however the holiday job working in a fabulous designer boutique turned into a more permanent job offer . Never one to miss a perfect opportunity and already into a comfort zone I could handle . I grabbed the opportunity and switched my plans to perusing a career in Retail fashion and studding part time . A successful result as the decision presented me with a fantastic opportunity to be on the receiving end of sound and invaluable initial work experience, instilled a work ethic of which I pride myself and I still have some fabulous clothes –because they were classic and the quality outstanding they have proved to be timeless. More importantly the opportunity gave me the independence I craved – I was able to be self sufficient and beat my own drum and ask no-body for anything or for their approval .

However, being young and naive I met a boy oh boy did I meet a boy ... yes a boy not a man! He was exciting and the life and soal of the party- a City boy quite different from the country boy’s I knew who had not swept me off my feet and were not really interested because I was like family , he was sophisticated (I thought) He had a car (his mother’s but this I did not know) he smoked -just like the Camel man! In fact he was just like the Camel man ... He was my Camel man! He’d fetch me from work and we would go to all the city pubs and restaurants he had really cool sophisticated friends and I was dancing a whole new dance....

Then I did the next obvious thing after 4 years we walked down the Isle – despite the Don’t Do it – your too young cries from wiser, older loved ones .... he’s not right for you . WHAT THE HELL DID THEY KNOW..... I was informed much to my horror that at our wedding friends were taking bets as to how long the marriage would last. OH it was a grand affair – A fairy tale wedding the dress the 250 guests , the private club the fabulous guests, the outstanding presents......until the first dance...The time for the first dance and the Groom was missing – he had disappeared. He was then tracked down by one of my ever faithful male country boy friends – no he was not with another woman he was sitting in the bar with complete strangers getting hammered. The honeymoon was a disaster – the first night he drove me all the way to my home town and we stayed in the Village hotel all a girl wants on the first night – a drunk husband – who drove us to the hotel then promptly passed out then shook me awake at 3 am asking me if I wanted a cheeseburger – oh Gosh is that what they call it ! Followed by a breakfast with the villagers who were not invited staring at me as if we were some point of interest ! The honeymoon was over before it began – once we got to the holiday resort – quiet because it was out of season but he was in constant contact with work . We had to cut the honeymoon short because of some crisis at work ! GREAT the new dance had begun.

The dance steps which followed were the quick step to avoid the mines buried in the mine field which lay ahead. You get good at that dance after 5 years! We parted and there was no sweet sorrow but relieve – for both of us I guess...

The next dance was one of recovery and it was like learning to crawl over again .. just manage to stand up and just as you think you are stead on your feet I fell down , and through sheer determination I managed to start walking again but this time stronger and more determined than before – but a whole lot wiser.... Just when I thought it was safe to get back in the water I got bitten again but it was not as bad as the first time because I knew I can and would survive . I got straight back into the dance routine again ! This time I was dancing solo and I was strong ...

Quite unexpectedly there was someone dancing right next to me and it felt good not clinging on or trying to take the lead just next to me ... Eventually we joined up and have been in step ever since – probably because I let him take the lead – most of the time ...

Our dance has led us to where we are now ... we both have changed professions, re-trained and are both doing jobs we hae always wanted to do but were not possible when we were both solo ... all is well .