They must be at least in their 80s. Almost everywhere and anytime we go out dancing we see them. They are stately and attractive, neatly and modestly dressed in fashions of several decades ago. Their faces show the signs of a wisdom gathered over a lifetime.
He is tall and distinguished, a gentleman with manners learned in the days when men opened doors for women and pampered them in other ways. She is a lady from the top of her perfect hair-do to the soles of her color coordinated shoes. She wears thick glasses but they cannot hide the smile in her eyes that lights up her whole face. They are oblivious to the crowded dance floor and the noise of the other dancers as they gaze affectionately into each other’s face.
And, hour after hour, they dance. In the midst of the dance floor, they waltz, two-step or invent their own steps to the varying rhythms of the music. Their steps are tiny and their movements sedate, but always faithful to the beat. They rarely sit out a dance. When one piece of music ends, they wait patiently on the dance floor in each other’s arms for the next piece to begin. They seem to have an endless supply of energy for dancing.
One evening she came into the ladies’ room just as I was going out. I remarked to her how much I enjoyed watching the two of them dance. She smiled, thanked me, and said, "Yes, we do like to dance."
I went on to express my amazement at the energy and stamina which enabled them to dance every dance without resting. "Well," she replied, "we’ve been dancing since 8 o’clock this morning, and we do that most days of the week."
I left her presence shaking my head in disbelief. How do they do it? I am at least ten years younger than they are. And yet, I get tired and have to sit out a few dances every hour to rest.
I’ve not yet discovered their secret for having endless energy for dancing – or anything else, for that matter! But research tells us that activity is the key to healthy aging and longevity. If that is the case, those two may live forever! I can almost see them dancing right into eternity!
mshr
