I hope you dance

Posted on April 23, 2022 by Sheila Morris

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance… I hope you dance…

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance… I hope you dance.

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
And wonder where those years have gone.)

lyrics to “I Hope You Dance” by Tia Sillers and Mark Sanders

For my actual birthday this week, Pretty took me and our granddaughters to the zoo. She carried Molly in her car seat, diaper bag on her back, often carrying Ella in her left arm while I tagged along with my two bionic knees. We had a small parade of our own. Please know that I offered to rent a stroller when we entered, but Pretty said the line to rent one was too long to wait. There were two people ahead of me.

The day was a memory maker, and Pretty deserves an award for creating a magical time for the four of us. I love all my girls.

I hope they both dance…

*****************************

Slava Ukraini – for the children.

About Sheila Morris

Sheila Morris is a personal historian, essayist with humorist tendencies, lesbian activist, truth seeker and speaker in the tradition of other female Texas storytellers including her paternal grandmother. In December, 2017, the University of South Carolina Press published her collection of first-person accounts of a few of the people primarily responsible for the development of LGBTQ organizations in South Carolina. Southern Perspectives on the Queer Movement: Committed to Home will resonate with everyone interested in LGBTQ history in the South during the tumultuous times from the AIDS pandemic to marriage equality. She has published five nonfiction books including two memoirs, an essay compilation and two collections of her favorite blogs from I'll Call It Like I See It. Her first book, Deep in the Heart: A Memoir of Love and Longing received a Golden Crown Literary Society Award in 2008. Her writings have been included in various anthologies - most recently the 2017 Saints and Sinners Literary Magazine. Her latest book, Four Ticket Ride, was released in January, 2019. She is a displaced Texan living in South Carolina with her wife Teresa Williams and their dogs Spike, Charly and Carl. She is also Naynay to her two granddaughters Ella and Molly James who light up her life for real. Born in rural Grimes County, Texas in 1946 her Texas roots still run wide and deep.
This entry was posted in family life, Lesbian Literary, Life, Personal, photography, Random, Reflections, Slice of Life, The Way Life Is, The Way Life Should Be and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

9 Responses to I hope you dance

  1. Wayside Artist says:
    April 23, 2022 at 3:49 pm

    What a beautiful song for children. You both are creating lifelong, happy memories for girls and grannies. Thanks for sharing them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Sheila Morris says:
      April 23, 2022 at 5:47 pm

      That’s what I thought today when this song came up out of the blue on my Alexa. Then when I did the birthday picture editing, I thought the song was perfect for the little girls – and big ones, too.
      Sending much love and huge hugs to you this afternoon and every day

      Like

      Reply
  2. scauburn79 says:
    April 23, 2022 at 4:35 pm

    Love that! One of my favorite songs, too! Nan

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Sheila Morris says:
      April 23, 2022 at 5:44 pm

      For some strange reason my Alexa has it on my list of songs I love – but I don’t remember adding it!! When it came up unexpectedly before I wrote today, I thought to myself Wow, that’s what I do hope…for everyone. Thank you, War Eagle Nan. Love and hugs

      Like

      Reply
  3. Animalcouriers says:
    April 24, 2022 at 6:22 am

    Love that photo of Pretty and 2 of her girls.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Luanne says:
    April 25, 2022 at 12:02 pm

    Oh, how I love this!!!! A stroller would have been nice, to my mind! but what fun. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could dance through life!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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