Dreams Relived

Mary Lou Retton. She was my idol. I was Mary Lou, coached by Bela Karolyi, cartwheeling around my living room on a blue blanket doubling as the floor mat. My little brother was the judge holding cards that, of course, had only 10's on them.

Today as Ella bounded around the gym on the balance beam and trampoline, older girls flew through the air practicing their floor routines. I didn't even hold back the tears.  I was transported to 1984 with all the feelings of my first grade heart bursting forth.

Flash backs of Mary Lou Retton sticking her famous vault with her radiant smile and the pleasure on Bela Karolyi's face flew through my mind. If I could actually turn my head yesterday (the pain was back in full force due to a freak tweak), I might have run out on that floor and tried to do a few flips myself.  

Monday evening, Asher had his first saxophone lesson. The sounds of students squeaking and pounding their way through lessons, welcomed us inside the studio. Music was a GIGANTIC part of my life growing up. I struggled through piano lessons, came alive on stage when I sang solos frequently in church, joined choirs, took voice lessons, and at Asher's age, started playing the trumpet under the direction of a band director who saw a potential Wynton Marsalis in me. Not really. But he did push me, and Wynton Marsalis was my hero.

After the lesson, standing in the lobby, I glowed as Asher chatted to the owner about how much he loves John Coltrane and the saxophone and his new instructor. Again, tears leaked out. I was right back in fifth grade, my smile glued from ear to ear, sitting in the gym alone during lunch with my band director who pushed me to greatness. I was so alive playing music (or whatever was coming out of that trumpet those first few lessons). Music makes me vibrate with life and there is nothing in the entire world like being part of a band or choir, creating the beauty of music with fellow musicians.

Two of my kids, passionately and without coercion, jumping into two of my childhood life giving dreams in one month. My heart can hardly contain the depth of its joy! Happy days. :)