To all my Round Dance Family,
At the end of last season, most of you knew that I
had been replaced at Tropic Star. I want to thank
all of you who went to bat for our Round Dance
Program.
Well, I set out on a quest that was encouraged by
many to find a new home for our Round Dance
Program. By the time I left the valley on Easter
Monday I had 3 sessions tentatively for this
coming season thanks to a good friend.
Back in Massachusetts, I spent the summer working
for CVS Pharmacy and cueing at square dances and
also held a couple of round dance sessions in one
of my favorite halls in Gloversville, NY. I also
spent a lot of time soul searching as to what I
would do come the fall. I left home and arrived
in the valley on September 22.
I have spent countless hours traveling to all the
RV parks in Donna, Alamo, San Juan, Pharr, McAllen
and Mission and returning to many after not
finding the person in charge of programming the
hall on the first go round. After each successful
visit - the answer was the same - no. Rejection
after rejection.
Again, I searched my heart as to what to do. The
sessions I had procured before I left the valley
were still tentative.
Well, I'll be perfectly honest and tell you that I
got very depressed. I have been teaching rounds
for 42 years and I really didn't know what to do.
At first, I thought I would just retire and become
a dancer again. Well, that wasn't making me
happy; then I decided I would give it up and
never dance again. This idea didn't make me feel
warm and fuzzy either. I knew that I would have
to go get a "real" job because I had to pay the
bills somehow. I couldn't collect unemployment or
a pension because being a Round Dance Teacher -
those just don't apply.
Many of you encouraged me, some even on a daily
basis and you all know who you are, to keep going
and you told me that eventually I would find
something.
Well, I'm at a Park meeting so I can do a
presentation to the people in the park to see if I
could drum up business - what's this - they say
there is a position open for an assistant park
manager - hey, maybe I could do that!
I cried, I tossed and turned, I walked the floors,
I just didn't know what I was going to do. I was
not going to be able to do what I loved and I
wasn't ready to call it quits. I love dancing and
I love people! Dancing and people are what make
me happy! Well, I made up my mind that if I didn't
find a hall by Veterans' Day I was going to apply
for that assistant manager's position.
But somehow, someway life seems to go full
circle. Driving around and around I saw dance
halls that I never saw before, maybe, just maybe,
I could find one of those halls. So off I went
again. Some of these halls were the pits and some
quite nice. The prices were even nicer. The
cheapest one I found was only $ 50 per hour and
you could get all of one couple in dancing at a
time. The prices ranged from this $ 50 per hour
to $ 850 for 4 hours. I didn't want to buy these
halls just rent them for Round Dancing. Again,
the tears flowed and the sleepless nights
continued.
Driving around I saw an American Legion
Post......the light went on....the car pulled
in.....I found myself asking the bartender if I
could look at the hall. Knowing the way my luck
way was running...was it carpeted???? was it too
small????... would it work.....not too bad....back
to the bartender to find out who I have to talk to
about renting the halI. Guess what - the
gentleman I needed to speak to is there..in the
back office. I explain in the best detail for the
zillionth time exactly what Round Dancing is and
what I need.......he isn't saying anything.....
I'm waiting for the other shoe to fall...... he
tells me to write it all down for the Commander of
the Post....I'm writing it all down in the best
penmanship I have so it is as clear (as
mud????)..... he read it and then he tells me I
have to come back and speak to the Commander
(wasn't it enough to write it all down?) and the
Executive Committee. So here I go again.
I wait until the day of the meeting still with
only 3 very very tentative sessions and nothing
else that really sounds promising (maybe that
"real" job would have to work). So, off I go to
put my best foot forward and explain for the
zillionth and first time what Round Dancing is and
what hours I am looking for.....
Well, I'm escorted in - head high - the Commander
introduces me and gets my name right (I later find
out that he's Polish)...I'm told to take a
seat....I'm surrounded by the Executive
Committee....no place to run....take a deep
breath....relax.... thank them all for their
service to our country... introduce myself and let
them know that I am a 25 year member of the
American Legion Auxiliary and a Past State
President from Massachusetts... wait a
minute....look around...I see a few of them
nodding....I explain the whole thing all over
again....someone asks if there are any
questions...I answer them to the best of my
ability....a voice... someone makes a
motion....they vote.... unanimous.....I can have
the hall.....I get out to the car and cry...this
time tears of joy.....we will all be able to be
together again!
Our schedule will be the same as last year except
for the beginner class. By the end of the week,
I should have the schedule ready for you, I just
need to find out what tentative sessions I still
have so I can put in the beginner class.
I am sorry this reads like a novel but I felt that
I needed to let you all know what I've been
through. We will begin our Round Dance Program on
December 1.
By the way....when I say things come full
circle..... the first hall I ever had when I
started out as a Round Dance Teacher was an
American Legion Post. I guess that is why we
always call it a Post Home. I am Home again.....
See you in a circle really soon....Safe
travels.....Hurry up....
Jo Yakimowski
fly-web.us)