The above photo was taken of Savannah and I after a quite enjoyable evening at an ECD (English County Dancing) Ball, hosted by some friends of ours in a neighboring state. (Y'all know who you are :) Thank you so much for hosting the event and for your hospitality in letting us stay with you!)
I suppose it might not have been strictly ECD, as I believe dances like the "Virginia Reel" probably fall more into the style of dancing during the War Between the States (which was not hugely different). But I really don't know too much about the technical specifics as I am uneducated on that topic, and I only know what I do know from picking it up by osmosis here or there at diverse times...In other words, I am telling you more than I know. :) So I shall at this time desist.
Anyway, on the 21st of this month, Savannah and I drove across the border to attend the dance. Racheal would have come also, only she was sick, and so was not able to. She figured that they did not want her to come and jolly well spread her cold around!
When we were a bit out from our destination, we gave the hosts a ring as directed...well, I tried calling one member of the family about three times, but as that phone tag never ended in a conversation, I tried calling another member of the family. I had turned the phone up so I could hear better, and the phone on the other end was just going, "ring...ring...ring..." I guess I was rather not paying attention to what I was doing....just dulling listening to the "ring...ring...ring...", so that when Werdna answered and said, "Hello", I literally jumped, and exclaimed, "Ouch!" I obviously had turned up the phone too much, so his "hello" was rather loud in my ear! (Sorry about my rude telephone greeting Werdna... :) )
And so we spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon/evening in conversation and dance...and eating, and drinking plenty of water, and of course, lots of coffee! (Although I think I only had two cups of coffee.) At the close of the event we helped a little (emphasis on a little) with the break-down, and caravaned to the home of our hosts from the church where the event itself was held.
But I do have a funny story to tell regarding and incident that happened during one of the dances...
This particular dance I was doing with Savannah, she was on the gent's side, which is a bit odd as I usually take that side if dancing with her, but anyway...In line next to me on the ladies side was R. (our host R., not Racheal, as you will recall that she was not there). So, I happened to have a sore spot on the top of my big toe where my shoe had given me a blister. Now usually these shoes are quite comfortable to dance in, but I guess that I have worn them enough for that I have stretched them out so they now rub, whereas they didn't used to...But regardless, I turned to R. and asked if she happened to have a band-aid handy--I thought perhaps she might have a purse nearby in which she might have one or something--I had some band-aids in my purse, but it was upstairs, and I didn't have time to run and fetch it before the dance started. However, she replied she didn't but could find some, and darted off to the kitchen, well I tried to tell her not to worry about it, but she had already gone, so I ran off after her...and since we were there, we looked in the first aid box on the wall, but they didn't have any regular band-aids, only large blue butterfly-ish looking things... So we both came running out of the kitchen to return to our places in line, our band-aid seeking mission not having been successful. Apparently we had been missed, and someone had made a comment along the lines of, "We are missing two bodies!" Of course, no one knew why we had run off, or why we had come bursting back out of the kitchen... So I told Savannah, upon her inquiry as to the reason of our temporary evacuation (and apparent stealing of the corpses), that we had gone in search for a band-aid--and I pointed to my right foot--"for my blisted buster". Then I realized what I had said. And then I started laughing. And then she started laughing. And then we were both laughing uncontrollably....Perhaps you had to have been there, but "Blisted Busters" is certainly a new favorite laugh line!! It really was a complete accident! So if anyone saw those two odd sisters laughing uncontrollably, the other night...it was because I had a blisted buster....I know, maybe it doesn't sound that funny, but believe me, at the time it was! Or maybe you just have to be a little crazy (like us) to get the humor. :)
We spent a considerable amount of the next day with our hosts as well; being made to laugh, playing "Apples to Apples" (which I had never played before, and which surprisingly, I actually technically "won"), taking a walk, talking, and me personally, looking and acting I am sure, quite dull from being tired, and occupied with drinking too much coffee...this time I wasn't counting. But I consoled myself on that front by thinking of the 4 hour drive ahead of me. :)
We were also made to feel quite awkward at one point by being induced to greet the arrival some of our host's incoming guests...next time I think I shall be decidedly a bit more of a kurmudgeon!! Next time y'all are hiding behind corners and miming to me, I shall cross my arms and say "You first!"....Y'all bunch of orneries! But really, I do like them, if one can bear their ways, they are quite a likable bunch. :)
So I petted the dog, she makes a lovely footstool...and we waited on a band of rain to pass through, so we would't be driving in it all the way home, and certain members of the family tried in vain via various methods, including intimidation, by threatening such things as hurricanes coming to the mid-west, to make us remain longer....And though we really would not have minded staying, we really did need to return home, and so we finally made our unceremonious departure, from the "Double H Hotel".
We thankfully had a safe trip home, and stopped only once at a Chick-fil-A for another cup of coffee...just what we needed right? Somewhere along the way all that coffee must have caught up with me, because as Savannah wasn't feeling very chatty, I ran my mouth most of the way home...but I was quite tired once we arrived--I believe that is called crashing. :)
I drove all the way home which is the farthest I have ever driven consecutively...I am thankful that they LORD provisioned us with complete safety!
The following Monday to all that, we (Mum, my sisters and myself) piled into the car and headed towards the opposite border, as Tuesday morning we had an appointment with our Lyme doctor, who lives across the state line in the opposite direction Savannah and I had just come from a day and a few hours previously. The appointment went relatively well. We stopped at a large international market, and then returned home. Repeat crash. Enter strange remainder of the week.
And so, yes, life has been busy...and don't ask me what I had for breakfast, for I should probably not remember!
May you have a blessed day.