White Gloves and New Shoes.

Today as the bells chime 4:30 on Meeting and Broad, little girls and boys will be running up the stairs, sweaty and excited to begin their first year of Dancing School (also referred to as The Cotillion). For four years in the fall and winter these same children will learn the Waltz, Fox Trot, Rhumba, Cha Cha and Square Dance basics. They will learn to introduce themselves, and others to adults, the importance of saying Thank You after every dance and most importantly, how to conduct themselves in adult situations. I was one of those little girls. I am still one of those girls, or at least I was until we moved. You see, I went to Dancing School, in high school I then taught Dancing School and for the last 7 years, it is where I chose to spend my Wednesday nights.
Obviously, it is a part of me. I can hear Miss E  greeting all the children, Mrs. H calling the dances and I can see Mrs. R dancing so gracefully. I miss them and it terribly. It is amazing, as I am writing this, there are tears in my eyes and I want to cry. HARD. I miss the songs, the slow records in the 4th grade, watching the little girls and boys grow into tweenagers and even become helpers. The children are wonderful to get to know and this year would have been the first year that my 4 year class at Grace Church would have gone through. I miss them. I also miss the Ladies. I grew up respecting them because I had to, it was the right thing to do, but now I respect them because I am their friend and they are mine. Wonderful friends who I aspire to be like one day. Kind, Smart and Graceful.

So, as I do when I am lonely, sad, upset-etc. I bake and today in celebration of Dancing School, I made a recipe that was shared by Miss E (which I consider and honor...these ladies hold family recipes to the end). Miss E would make this and a pound cake which is delicious and share with the group I was able to wrangle this recipe but not the cake.... I must admit, this was the second time that I made it and I think I did her proud.

The Treasure

My Little Helper

Finished Product. Yum.

 So, as my day ticks away...I will be staring at the clock, wishing I was.......home.