So we are all social-distancing now – which means no large groups, no holding hands, and six feet between you and the next person.
I’m feeling bereft and adrift, as all of the classes I teach - at the College of Marin, Osher Marin JCC, and Hermann Sons Hall in Petaluma – have been cancelled. Our annual spring folk dance party in Petaluma has been cancelled. Cancelling was the right thing to do, the safe thing to do, and I’m hating every minute of this.
This means no folk dancing right now, and possibly through the next several months.
Which means, for so many of us, that the activity we love is forbidden. That we won’t be seeing the long-time friends and community we cherish. That we won’t be hearing that wonderful Balkan music, joining hands together, and joyously dancing to our favorite dances.
So here’s what I’m doing to make it through these hard times:
- Listening to my favorite music
- Watching a lot of folk dance videos
- Working on learning some new dances to teach once classes can be resumed
- Dancing in my living room with my granddaughters
- Having long phone conversations with friends
- Taking hikes, doing yoga at home, and reading lots of books.
In these tough times, I’m doing the best I can to stay sane and healthy. I’m hoping you all will be able to do the same.
