Thursday:) Those Young At Heart Seniors

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”

~ Frank Lloyd Wright

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I’ve been doing something crazy. Well, crazy in my mind. I’ve been going over to the McKinney Senior Center on Monday afternoons. They have a country dance venue that is such a kick. I never learned to dance when I was younger. When you think of a senior center, your mind gets all sad and sympathetic, and you envision a bunch of old white-haired codgers shuffling around. Oh my, quite the contrary.

I’ll admit, I’m probably one of the youngest people there, but these folks can move like nobody’s business. And talk about sharp. They know about a dozen different line dances that have more moves than Michael Jackson. I still haven’t mastered one. I’ve almost got the two-step down, but that was after stepping and stomping on the toes of several unsuspecting gentlemen. I did apologize.

Then, everyone takes a short break and nibbles on goodies that volunteers bring to share with the group. I made some brownies that quickly disappeared.

You only have to be 50 or older to join the McKinney Senior Center, and it costs a whole $5 a year for a resident membership, non-residents, $10 a year.

I had a great time, learned a few moves, and made some new friends. This getting old stuff isn’t all that bad when you keep dancin’ and singin’. Speaking of which, I better get moving…off to karaoke at the VFW.

Saturday on the Square:Oktoberfest

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”–Benjamin Franklin 

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Downtown McKinney has been celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend. The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry. I guess it makes for more beer drinking. 

I drove over to the square this afternoon, but it took me  45 minutes to get there because of some crazy traffic on 380/University. I wasn’t in a hurry, didn’t want to get stressed, so I just cranked up my radio and belted out some tunes. Great stress relief ! Then parking was next to impossible, so I ended up parking somewhere near Oklahoma. Just kidding. But, it was 6 or 7 blocks, but I like walking. No stress. 

I bumped into friends and did a lot of people watching. 

   
   
  
Lynda Kingsley was all cute in her costume. 

  
Kathy and her sister, Donna, entertaining outside of Sweet Spot Bakery. 

  
Paramedics on hand to help a young boy with a bee sting. 

It was a lovely day on the square. I didn’t drink any beer,  “my no drinking and driving policy,” but I had fun. Tomorrow is the last day if you want to check it out. 

Theme Song Thursday: Dancing in the Kitchen

“Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. TRUST. HOPE. LOVE. WISH. BELIEVE. Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of always focusing on how far you have to go.”
― Mandy Hale
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When it’s grey and gloomy, nothing perks you up like dancing. I started of the day with a super fun Zumba class. So much dancing, wiggling and giggling. After an hour of Latin dancing stirring up my Latin blood, I was pumped. It was cold, grey, and drizzling when I got home, but I put on a sweater, a jacket over that, a wool hat, pulled up my hood and took a brisk walk in the misty morning. I sang songs in my head and danced in my heart.

No matter how sad or mad I am, no matter how gloomy or cold outside, music will make me smile, singing brightens my day, and nothing, absolutely nothing feels more delightful than DANCING IN THE KITCHEN!!!

I know, I know, the “HAPPY” song has become annoying and over done, but I danced to it in my old house last year, with boxes piled everywhere, having to move and leave my home. It was a tough time, but I danced in the kitchen. Now, in my new house, everything is slowly getting organized and falling into place. Things are still tough, but nothing will stop me from dancing in the kitchen.

Theme Song Thursday: Dance for…

We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.
~ Angela Monet
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I love Zumba, I love dancing, I love music. The music and motion and beat courses through my veins and I just start dancing. You can’t be sad or mad when you are dancing and wiggling around like a nut.

But alas, the music eventually stops, and the dancing slippers are put aside. Keep the music in your heart and in your head. Dance in your dreams.

What do you dance for?

Theme Song Thursday: Shake Señora

Dancing and running shake up the chemistry of happiness.
Mason Cooley
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Another early morning walk, another spectacular sunrise to paint the dawn with a glowing paint brush. Very poetic, huh? The amazement of nature will do that to you.

Immediately after an hour walk, off to Zumba at the YMCA. The music, the dancing, the comaraderie, and all that shaking it all around, loosens up all tension and anxiety. I’m ready to tackle the day. I stopped at the grocery store, came home and went for another quick walk.

Always good to shake up the chemistry of happiness. GO DANCE SEÑORA!!!

Friday: Finish Each Day Footloose and Fancy Free

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely…”
Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)
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Friday ALWAYS rolls a round so fast. The cool weather today made it a perfect morning for a long walk. After a few errands and a quick lunch, it was already time to go to Towne Creek for my senior art group. Our dear friend, Krys Watson, came to teach us how to make paper origami fortune cookies. (I forgot to take pictures of her demo and the delicious feast that she brought to share with us.) but, I did take a pic of my finished project.

Another thing I finished was the yummy dessert Krys brought. It was that crushed pretzel, cream cheese/cool whip, jello fruit dessert. (Again, no photo…duh!) But, Krys did catch me licking the spoon.)

After I got home, I remembered that I promised myself to “dance in the kitchen.” So, I decided to “Cut, Footloose.” Yep, Finish each day footloose and fancy free. And always, always…dance in the kitchen.

If you want to join the club, fill in your name and be footloose and fancy free.

Theme Song Thursday

“It should not be denied… that being footloose has always exhilarated us. It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression and law and irksome obligations, with absolute freedom, and the road has always led West.”
Wallace Stegner
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There’s nothing like watching people singing and dancing to lift your spirits. I had the pleasure of attending the McKinney Summer Musical “FOOTLOOSE,” at McKinney Boyd High School tonight.The dreary rainy evening was forgotten once the exhilarating dancing and spectacular songs rocked the auditorium.

As I’ve mentioned before, I plan to dance in my kitchen and sing show tunes. Life is to short to sit still and mope around all day. This morning I danced, shook and shimmied at Zumba, and this afternoon, I was dancing to “West Side Story, ” in my kitchen. Tomorrow, I’ll dance to “”Footloose.” Give it a try. “Everybody cut….”

Now, you want to cut loose, don’t ya?

Theme Song Thursday: Break the Chain

Do you have a bucket list? Most people think a bucket list is that desperate checklist of outrageous or dangerous things that they always dreamed of doing before they die. Why do we need a bucket list before we kick the bucket? I like to look at life a little differently. I have a “thimble list.” It’s more like a little, teeny-tiny thimble of small things I’d like to do someday. It could be something as simple as taking a pottery class or something spontaneous like dancing in a flash mob.

Today, the city of McKinney had a flash mob on the Square to support the One Billion Rising. The event is a worldwide activist movement to end violence against women and girls. Facebook friends were talking about participating, so I decided, “why not!” It was spontaneous and fun. I didn’t care that I didn’t know any of the steps, nor did I care. Just like the NIKE slogan says…Just do it! Three little words small enough to fit in a thimble.

Townesquarebuzz was on hand to record the event.

http://townsquarebuzz.com/ams/50382/watch-flash-mob-mckinney-v-day-mckinney-joins-global-campaign-end-violence-/0/ams/50382