Day 87. The Amazing Mrs. Burns

I know what you're thinking. I'm getting a little prideful. But the Mrs. Burns of this story is not me. I'm just Carole (always say that), Mrs. Burns is my mother-in-law.

We lost her to breast cancer almost 20 years ago. I never realized it until today, by my children don't know a lot of stories from when her kids - their aunt, uncle and father - were small.

Judy was her only daughter. When she was an infant she contracted German Measles and was hospitalized. During that time (Mrs. Burns told me) the hospital gave her too much oxygen and she ended up with brain damage. However, in Judy's words "I'm slow, I'm not stupid". That was something Mrs. Burns always told her. 

So today's story is one that Judy shared with me while we were shopping. 

We had walked past the children's clothing and I noticed a little tutu dress. I said how sweet it was and asked Judy if she ever took ballet. "No, I took tap" came the answer. She went on to tell me the story of her short tap career at the ripe old age of maybe 5 or 6.

"Mom would take me every week and sit while I learned the steps. We worked on each of the lessons when we got home so I would learn them well enough to keep up with the other kids in the class. I never missed a single session and mom was always paying close attention so that she could help. 

Then we started to learn a dance routine that we would perform on the last day of the class. Mom took notes and practiced with me every day. The little girl across the street was in my class so mom and I would go over to her house and work on the dance.

Finally the day came for the performance. We got dressed and I had my shoes polished and a bow in my hair. But when we got to the class I was the only one to show up. None of the other students wanted to perform.

I was scared and didn't want to do the routine by myself. So my mom put down her coat and purse, climbed up on to the platform and did the dance with me. It was a mother-daughter dance." Judy had a smile on her face as she remembered this story. "It is one of my favorite memories, then when we finished she told the teacher we wouldn't be back. I guess she was upset that no one else bothered to show up and felt it was a waste of time. So I went on to other classes instead. But that one I will never forget."

I really wish I could have been there to see that performance. I didn't want to tell Judy about the tap lessons I took in my 40's. We had a recital too. 

I didn't show up. Now I wish I had.