TAPPA TAPPA TAPPA

Mags: "Look at these tap shoes, Mama. They have a toe tapper and a back toe tapper."

Me: "Pretty cool. I think that one's called a HEEL tapper in the back."

Mags: "Nope. Sorry, Mama. You weren't in there. It's a back toe tapper."

Mags has begun to take ballet, jazz and tap. She was especially excited to put on her tap shoes the SECOND we bought them and "tappa, tappa, tappa" all over the place. Having danced most of my young life, I know that invigorating feeling of getting your new ballet and tap shoes for the year, a fresh leotard, and your cute little bag to put it all in. Something like this: 

So, when we arrived at the studio, Mags was in full ballerina mode. The leotard was bedazzled, her waist was tutued (I made that word up) and her shoes were ready to go. I walked into a small waiting room where the "dance moms" all sat waiting patiently. I thought for sure I'd be able to watch her through a glass window in the door or something, but nope. The studio doors were solid and the teacher shuts them so the galloping group of four-year-old girls won't get distracted. 

There went that plan. What was I going to do for 45 minutes? Let's see. I could have written a story, a post, or answered emails. Those were all doable from my phone. As I hemmed and hawed over my choices, I realized it was nice to just sit there. To allow myself to sit there...and not do anything. 

So, there I sat and before I knew it the doors flew open and like doves being released from a cage, six little four-year-old ballerinas came flying out yelling,

"TAP SHOE TIME!"

I raced to put them on Mags' wiggling feet and get her back into the studio to her teacher. The door was open while the other girls bounded back in and stomped their way across the shiny floor to hear the noise those magical tappers made. I grabbed my phone and turned on the camera. I wanted to try to catch a picture of her in class while the doors were still open. I looked around and caught Mags' eye. She caught mine and then this is the picture I took of her in class.

Perfect! That' my girl.

So tonight, I'm following in Mags' footsteps foot stomps. I'm taking an adult ballet class for the first time in almost twenty years. Here's hoping that whole "coordination" thing kicks back in. I've seemed to have lost it along the way and trip over air...frequently. But I'm looking forward to it.

Plus, I got a new pair of ballet shoes, too.