Happy Feet
On Wednesday, after a presentation at school on the perils of letting children have gadgets and media and then a coincidentally marketing meeting afterwards, I left thinking I’m going to stop by and see my old friend, Vanessa, who is playing down the street from my house. And so that is why at 9pm, when I’m usually crawling in bed, I stopped into DMACs and listened to Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue. There, I ran into one of my dancing partners and we were able to get in a few dances before the last set was over.
Thursday, I had two $5 tickets to a show that I was not quite sure was starring Esperanza Spalding and turned out to be THE show of the season with a warm-up of Helen Gillet playing her French songs on an upright bass and then the entrance of the most dynamic jazz band I have heard in a long while – the Christian Scott Quintet – FABULOUS – including his lovely wife, who came out and sang Summertime (something that is on the mind of all New Orleanians in the wake of so much cold) and then next up was the Spring Quartet with none other than Esperanza Spalding and this incredible drummer – whoa – Jack DeJohnette – who was fabulous.
So last night, I could have rested from all this activity, but instead I chose to go out with friends and we went club hopping – stopping first at Club Caribbean for a tribute to Bob Marley, next to Buffa’s for the Honey Pots, and then ending at Chickie Wah Wah for a little more Gal Holiday and some more dancing – I had two dance partners – both great.
And so my friends, I think when your mind is clouded by things that are outside of your control and you are looking for all the ways to be grateful sometimes going out and listening to music and moving your body helps ground you in the now and helps you remember why it is you are on this planet – to dance while the music is playing.
This morning while I was at Zumba and smiling ear to ear, I thought of all the reasons I’m a lucky gal.