Dance for Fun, By Susan Quiring
www.SusansBallroomDance.com
This year’s season of “So you Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars” is off to a great start. Young or old, male or female, many of us share a common dream of swooping elegantly around the dance floor.
Dan Barbee, who has taken dance classes from Susan’s Ballroom Dance for 5 ½ years, says, “For families and mature adults, we don't have to dance like stars but we can still enjoy it even if we forget a step every now and then. When our partner looks at us and smiles, the lost step is forgotten in an instant. As we get older, there are still plenty of dances and steps that we can do. We don't have to be stars; we can just simply enjoy the dance and each other. Dancing is an activity that can be shared by all ages--at home, at the club, or in the ballroom.“
The benefits of dance for our youth are endless. What they learn now will serve them well by giving them confidence and allowing them to practice social skills in many different situations. In addition to dancing being fun, it is healthy, and excellent at helping you meet people all through your life.
Dancing makes you smile, makes you move, and allows you to truly enjoy music even though you may not be able to sing or play a musical instrument. It is easy to dance whether you are 10, 30, 50, 70 or older. “I just danced a swing and a waltz with a 96 year- old gentleman at the Carriage Inn just 3 weeks ago,” Susan Quiring commented. “Many, many good memories are created around the music and the dance.”
Most women love a man who can dance. Once you have taken a few lessons, you can go out dancing socially and yes you can also dance at weddings! It enhances a marriage, and it’s for all ages. Just a half hour of continuous dancing can burn up to 400 calories. How many of us can do cardio for a couple of hours and not realize how much time has passed because we’re having so much fun?
What are you waiting for? Do you want to learn the elegant Waltz or tango, the sultry Cha Cha, Salsa or Samba, or maybe you love to Swing or Hustle? Whether you are getting married, are looking for a way to build your social network, want a fun way to burn calories, or you are a teen wanting to impress a girl—whatever your reason, Get out there and learn a step or two!
By Susan Quiring
www.SusansBallroomDance.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Buddy Walk - Oct 11th!
What a Friend Means to Dillon
By Sondra White
Darla smiled as her son climbed into the car after school that day.
“Momma, a fwiend’s comin’ ober later, OK?” he said with his usual excitement.
She paused, gave him another big smile, and replied, “Sure, Dillon―that sounds great!”
It wasn’t the first time her 15-year-old son had come home from school with the notion that a friend might come over. She knew it was unlikely; especially considering this was his first week as a freshman at Iola High School. But why ruin his fun by asking a bunch of questions? It couldn’t hurt to let him wonder if someone might actually show up this time.
You see, unlike most kids his age, Dillon never had any friends drop by to play or just hang out. Rare was the time he was invited to a birthday party or sleepover. It was no one’s fault. Their five-acre country home doesn’t exactly lend itself to frequent neighborly visits. And it’s human nature for most children to steer clear of those who are different.
Dillon’s Grand Entrance
Dillon was one in about 700 Americans born with Down syndrome. He made a dramatic entrance into the world with a webbed intestine, a mangled heart and only a 50-50 chance of survival.
“When my grandparents came to the hospital, they looked through the window and noticed the doctors were frantically working on Dillon,” Darla said. “They told me that life flight was on the way to take him to Houston, and that’s when I really went crazy!”
Oblivious to the pain of a C-section through which Dillon was delivered, Darla insisted on driving to Houston with her husband, Shane, to be near their son, who was admitted to the Turner Unit for infants in critical condition. In the hours that followed Dillon’s parents would learn that not only did he have a webbed intestine that required immediate surgery, but he was born with Down syndrome and serious heart defect.
“It was a long and traumatic beginning, but at 11 months Dillon had open-heart surgery, and since then life has been great!” Darla says. “He was welcomed in Iola as a miracle kid.”
No Imaginary Friend
About 30 minutes after Darla and Dillon got home from school that day, she heard the sound of rubber on gravel as a vehicle drove up to the house. A few second later, she heard a car door slam.
“I didn’t think much of it,” she says. “I figured it was Shane coming home from work early or maybe the UPS man.”
Suddenly, Dillon was dashing down the hallway toward her, yelling at top of his lungs, “Mom! My fwiend’s here! My fwiend’s here!”
“I still thought that Dillon might have been imagining all this,” Darla said, “but sure enough I looked outside and there he was―a real-live friend who had driven over to our house to hang out with my son!”
Brett introduced himself to Darla, gave Dillon a high five, and the two casually walked away toward the back room to play video games. They had met that day at school, and Bret had asked Dillon if he could come by to hang out after school. Having never met a stranger in his life, Dillon said, “Sure!” and gave Brett directions to the house. Miraculously, Brett actually showed up.
“They played video games, shot BB guns and went fishing down at our tank,” Darla said. Shane got home later and asked, “Who’s that down at the tank with Dillon?” When Darla told him the good news, they let the boys hang out until nearly 10 p.m. “Shane finally had to break up the party and tell Brett to go home so Dillon could get some sleep,” Darla said. “Dillon told us it was the best day ever.”
The World Through Dillon’s Eyes
Dillon’s been enrolled in public school since the age of 3, and has been included in all classes and activities. “The teachers, administrators and most kids don’t treat him any differently,” Darla says, “but as he gets older it becomes clear that he doesn’t advance the same way other children do.”
Despite cognitive challenges that make it difficult for him to read, write and speak, the word “can’t” does not exist in the Dyke family vocabulary. Dillon loves to ski on snow and water, plays golf and ping-pong, drives a go-kart and boat, and enjoys fishing with his brother.
“Dillon has made me a better person and actually makes everyone who knows him a better person,” Darla says. “I always tell people, ‘If you could see the world through Dillon’s eyes for one day, you’d see a beautiful place.’ He sees no bad in anyone. Even when other kids are cruel―like the time not too long ago that a bully pushed him into a locker at school―he says, ‘It’s OK Mom, they can still be my friends.’ ”
Walk for Acceptance
Darla says it’s this unconditional love and acceptance in people with Down syndrome that brings meaning to the Buddy Walk―an annual fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley. “This to me is the most important message of Buddy Walk,” she says. “If our children can show such remarkable caring for others, it’s only fair that we accept them for who they are, regardless of their differences.”
Through the Down Syndrome Association, the Dyke family and others like them have grown through support and activities that focus on education, sharing and advocacy. Darla says it’s nice to know she can always turn to a group of friends who are nonjudgmental and share a common bond. “I never feel alone like I did before,” she says, “and I’ve made the best friends anyone could ask for.
“People with Down syndrome are almost like everyone else in the world,” she says. “But they have a much better understanding of life and love.”
To register for the 6th Annual Buddy Walk, go to www.downsyndromeofbcs.com.
By Sondra White
Darla smiled as her son climbed into the car after school that day.
“Momma, a fwiend’s comin’ ober later, OK?” he said with his usual excitement.
She paused, gave him another big smile, and replied, “Sure, Dillon―that sounds great!”
It wasn’t the first time her 15-year-old son had come home from school with the notion that a friend might come over. She knew it was unlikely; especially considering this was his first week as a freshman at Iola High School. But why ruin his fun by asking a bunch of questions? It couldn’t hurt to let him wonder if someone might actually show up this time.
You see, unlike most kids his age, Dillon never had any friends drop by to play or just hang out. Rare was the time he was invited to a birthday party or sleepover. It was no one’s fault. Their five-acre country home doesn’t exactly lend itself to frequent neighborly visits. And it’s human nature for most children to steer clear of those who are different.
Dillon’s Grand Entrance
Dillon was one in about 700 Americans born with Down syndrome. He made a dramatic entrance into the world with a webbed intestine, a mangled heart and only a 50-50 chance of survival.
“When my grandparents came to the hospital, they looked through the window and noticed the doctors were frantically working on Dillon,” Darla said. “They told me that life flight was on the way to take him to Houston, and that’s when I really went crazy!”
Oblivious to the pain of a C-section through which Dillon was delivered, Darla insisted on driving to Houston with her husband, Shane, to be near their son, who was admitted to the Turner Unit for infants in critical condition. In the hours that followed Dillon’s parents would learn that not only did he have a webbed intestine that required immediate surgery, but he was born with Down syndrome and serious heart defect.
“It was a long and traumatic beginning, but at 11 months Dillon had open-heart surgery, and since then life has been great!” Darla says. “He was welcomed in Iola as a miracle kid.”
No Imaginary Friend
About 30 minutes after Darla and Dillon got home from school that day, she heard the sound of rubber on gravel as a vehicle drove up to the house. A few second later, she heard a car door slam.
“I didn’t think much of it,” she says. “I figured it was Shane coming home from work early or maybe the UPS man.”
Suddenly, Dillon was dashing down the hallway toward her, yelling at top of his lungs, “Mom! My fwiend’s here! My fwiend’s here!”
“I still thought that Dillon might have been imagining all this,” Darla said, “but sure enough I looked outside and there he was―a real-live friend who had driven over to our house to hang out with my son!”
Brett introduced himself to Darla, gave Dillon a high five, and the two casually walked away toward the back room to play video games. They had met that day at school, and Bret had asked Dillon if he could come by to hang out after school. Having never met a stranger in his life, Dillon said, “Sure!” and gave Brett directions to the house. Miraculously, Brett actually showed up.
“They played video games, shot BB guns and went fishing down at our tank,” Darla said. Shane got home later and asked, “Who’s that down at the tank with Dillon?” When Darla told him the good news, they let the boys hang out until nearly 10 p.m. “Shane finally had to break up the party and tell Brett to go home so Dillon could get some sleep,” Darla said. “Dillon told us it was the best day ever.”
The World Through Dillon’s Eyes
Dillon’s been enrolled in public school since the age of 3, and has been included in all classes and activities. “The teachers, administrators and most kids don’t treat him any differently,” Darla says, “but as he gets older it becomes clear that he doesn’t advance the same way other children do.”
Despite cognitive challenges that make it difficult for him to read, write and speak, the word “can’t” does not exist in the Dyke family vocabulary. Dillon loves to ski on snow and water, plays golf and ping-pong, drives a go-kart and boat, and enjoys fishing with his brother.
“Dillon has made me a better person and actually makes everyone who knows him a better person,” Darla says. “I always tell people, ‘If you could see the world through Dillon’s eyes for one day, you’d see a beautiful place.’ He sees no bad in anyone. Even when other kids are cruel―like the time not too long ago that a bully pushed him into a locker at school―he says, ‘It’s OK Mom, they can still be my friends.’ ”
Walk for Acceptance
Darla says it’s this unconditional love and acceptance in people with Down syndrome that brings meaning to the Buddy Walk―an annual fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley. “This to me is the most important message of Buddy Walk,” she says. “If our children can show such remarkable caring for others, it’s only fair that we accept them for who they are, regardless of their differences.”
Through the Down Syndrome Association, the Dyke family and others like them have grown through support and activities that focus on education, sharing and advocacy. Darla says it’s nice to know she can always turn to a group of friends who are nonjudgmental and share a common bond. “I never feel alone like I did before,” she says, “and I’ve made the best friends anyone could ask for.
“People with Down syndrome are almost like everyone else in the world,” she says. “But they have a much better understanding of life and love.”
To register for the 6th Annual Buddy Walk, go to www.downsyndromeofbcs.com.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Welcome to October!
Oh my gosh, the heat has subsided! We may have had to deal with multiple dreary days filled with rain, but I think after the brutal heat of this summer, it has been a welcomed change. October brings cooler temperatures and many family activities offered in our area. October is also the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many, many lives have been affected by this disease, so even something as simple as a prayer would be appreciated. The annual Buddy Walk is upon us and is a great way to spend some outdoor time and get some exercise! Please learn more about this wonderful and rewarding event and how to participate; I urge you to take a moment to read this month’s Buddy Walk spotlight and come out on October 11th.
Speaking of participating, I think I will take lasts months message of slowing down and spending quality time with friends and family one step further. This month’s Halloween celebration is a prime opportunity to not only spend time with your family, but also to relax, let go, and have fun with them. Instead of merely making sure that your children have wonderful costumes, make sure that you have one too! I know, I know...you don’t have time, or somebody might see you, your too tired, or you just think its goofy. Being goofy is half of the fun and if you have young children, it’s the part that they will really understand! Seeing you dressed up, especially if they get to help, will be just as exciting to them as being in their own costumes. It will also provide a lasting memory that will talked about for years.
When I was a child, the neighborhood fathers decided to get together and put on a haunted house. They each dressed up, went trick or treating with their kids, and then met at the community pool where the haunted house was for everybody to enjoy. I was very young at the time, in fact, too young and frightened to walk through the haunted house, but I can remember that my father was Frankenstein (and a good one at that, these dads weren’t messing around!) Now that I think about it, I remember one father was an escaped crazed ape, another was a frogman-like sea creature swimming in and out of the pool, and another was a lunatic scientist host for the house. That particular Halloween I went dressed up as……I have absolutely idea. My best friend, who’s father was the crazed Ape, I have no recollection what he was dressed as. How is that for a lasting impression on a child? I can’t remember what my friends were dressed as, but I can remember the Dad’s costumes and even other specifics about the haunted house! Point is, the parents did something special that year, they participated with their children and the neighborhood kids, and although it may have been scary - it made that Halloween a lasting memory because our fathers and “the adults” dressed up just like us!
I’m not saying that you have to dress up for Halloween, much less put on a haunted house. I am simply encouraging you to participate in the events and things that your kids are involved in, whatever their age, and whatever that may be. You may find it very rewarding on different levels and even if they don’t act like it now, they will benefit from it. Take advantage of the cooler weather, as Tom says feed the birds, and enjoy this great community that we are lucky to call home. Thank you for reading AYC!
Geoff Spahr
Publisher AYC
Geoff Spahr
Publisher AYC
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