ONE OF LIFE’S TREASURES--

Life surprises you with a nice gift once in awhile.

Mine showed up one recent evening when eight square dancing friends accepted an invitation to be the entertainment at the annual picnic of the local Multiple Sclerosis support group.

I gave a silent prayer of thanks for my gift of good health as we assembled for a picnic-style covered dish feed in the presence of these folks; some family or friends, and some afflicted with this horrible disease—many already confined to wheelchairs.

We did our dances to a chorus of smiles from that appreciative audience.

Soon our square was half populated by MS victims as our invited dance partners, whirling to our caller’s musical chant; they with not quite polished dance moves but with more than abundant energy and rousing enthusiasm.

I was beaming inside as the magic of that moment unfolded.

Then, to my amazement, three fellows in wheel chairs accepted our invitation to dance and partnered with our ladies while our male dancers stepped behind the chairs to provide helpful propulsion.

And, away we went with the new “couples” wiggling and giggling in the real dance move of “Forward and Back”.

That quickly morphed into learning—and doing, more or less,—the Allemande Left. ...which led to the “Right and Left Grand,” a circling move where the ladies go one way and the fellows go the opposite while weaving among each other.

Even the confusion of inexperience was hilarious. The smiles were electrifying.

The crushing burden of the affliction was gone! ...at least for those shining moments.

A rowdy celebration of gentle high-fives followed the last musical note and my heart was rattled when a beaming and wheelchair confined victim, John Precup, thanked me for being his engine.

...a gift I will long treasure.

_________________________________
Our dancers:  George and Judy Osborne, Frank and Bernie Phillips, Butch and Betty Hoke, Sue Brooks and Terry Wolf.  Our caller:  Brian Fellows.