Parenthood en pointe

"Fifth position everyone!"

I look over at Abby who is clearly NOT in fifth position. I want to rush over to her and fix her feet before her ballet instructor can point out to Abby her mistake but I don't, hoping that she'll figure it out on her own.

It's "watch day" for parents at Abby's ballet lesson. Abby, who has been taking ballet lessons for a couple of years now, is the epitome of focus and concentration. Unfortunately that doesn't stop her from making mistakes, some that she quickly fixes and others that don't register.

Every other girl in the class is making as many mistakes as Abby. But I'm only focused on my daughter, watching her dance around the studio with a smile on face as she learns. My face lights up when she gets it as they practice for their recital this summer. As she makes a mistake my brows furrow in my own concentration as I will the steps to come easier to her.

Why I am so focused on this, on her mistakes, I don't know. The practical side of my brain says that Abby is six years old, still a baby in her own right (though she would disagree) and that she's having fun so who cares anyway? The fate of the world does not rest on the performance of a handful of kindergarteners at a ballet recital. But I want her to excel in everything she does. All parents want that for their children. Whether or not that ultimately happens won't matter. I love her unconditionally, even if her tendu sometimes looks more like fondue.

I want a little Spring in my step

I had visions of warmer weather as I stepped into a local retailer today. Gone are the constant reminders of winter from the racks. Need a coat? Check the clearance aisle. The bathing suits and bikinis have been rolled out in anticipation and the sandals are on colorful display.
And, ah... the shoes!
The first pair to really catch my eye were these. Meow! And then I saw these... purr! These I thought were cute and quirky but I'm not to sure about a color called Celery Green. I'm just saying. Finally, these are just girly enough to make me feel about five years younger. Oh, and of course, I'll need something for Spring showers...these just might do.
Old Man Winter... you need to hurry on! My toes are getting antsy!

I'll get to the point.... eventually.

I left work nearly 2 1/2 hours early tonight. That's unheard of! In order for that to have happened every single airplane had to have landed on time or early. And ohmigawd, they did! Again, unheard of! (Ok, so one problem was eliminated when I canceled a flight, but who's counting?)

So what's a girl to do? It's a Saturday night, the evening's still young... Go home, check email,
blog a bit and go to sleep, naturally. But.

The whole point behind this entry, the reason I opened up a New Post anyway is that I was giddy as a school girl as I left work. To have left so early in the evening was somewhat liberating (and, pathetic, as I further reflect on my giddiness). Anyway, I promptly jumped into my car, sped away and turned on some music.

Blasted it, in fact. What did I blast? What song(s) bolstered my (pathetic) energy for leaving work early?

End It On This (No Doubt)
"...And if I could turn back
The pages of time
I'd rewrite your point of view"

Swiftly followed by Tragic Kingdom (again, No Doubt).
"Once was a magical place
Over time it was lost..."

And so my question to you:
What do you blast in the car when you're being out-of-your-mind silly?