A tradition with a nice vibe ended this evening. For the past two years or so, most Wednesday nights, I’ve carpooled to Baltimore for a contra dance held at Lovely Lane Church. For most of this time, I’ve carpooled with my mother and a long-time dancer my mother’s age, Jo. The three of us would gather and talk on the way up and the way back. Now, while I like the contra dance in DC much more, I often have to drive there myself. And I’ve noticed that over time, that if I have to choose one night a week to dance, my preference has been the Wednesday night dance and the social aspect of the carpool.
Jo and her husband decided to move out of Columbia and live their retirement years in St. Petersburg, Florida. She did check out the contra dance scene before selecting the town in which they’d soon live. But, on my end of things, tonight was the last night we’d all carpool down together. And I feel a little sad. It’d probably be an over-statement to say I’m good friends with her. But I like her. And I like what we shared: a tradition, an agreement, some time together at regular intervals.
I wish her the best, of course. And hope she finds lots of good dancers and interesting people in St. Petersburg, but I’m really going to miss her and the weekly carpool rides we shared.
