I do not get to sing in the car with the radio anymore unless I'm alone. The only songs I get to sing with during our commute are the You Are My Sunshine, the ABC's and the Barney Song. If I sing along with any other song, I get a very serious "No sing, Mommy!" from the backseat. This is usually followed with the pointed finger hand gesture. Two and a half year olds can be quite insistent. If I keep singing, she'll keep hollering at me until I stop. Now, I know my singing voice isn't "show quality" and she isn't the first person to request that I stop singing. That doesn't keep me from doing it, though. There are days when I just have to.

For some reason, it is more acceptable to Punkin for me to sing when I'm in the kitchen. Not always though. During those times I get "No sing, Mommy. You dance." Ok, I dance. Again, I probably won't be winning any awards for my dancing, but I love it. I used to dance her around the kitchen for a couple of songs when she was a wee little thing. Now she's a topping out at about 35-40 pounds. That doesn't always stop me, though. Some days, when my back can take it, I pick her up and somehow laughingly dance our way through one song at least.

I used to dance a lot more. I took all sorts of dance classes from when I was four years old through my junior or senior year in high school. Ballet, tap, jazz and pointe. I loved it. I never really practiced, but I loved it. I remember doing the hustle in gym class in grade school. Not even the image of our heavy-set male gym teacher doing the bus stop could discourage me. (I even enjoyed square dancing, please don't tell anyone)

When country line dancing became very popular, I was there. Line dancing can be so simple! I could even do it! I had a blast. I've been back once with Erika, but I stopped going years ago. Time just got away from me.

Now I bee-bop my head back and forth, and tap my fingers and toes while driving or while I'm working. Some days I'm Walkin' On Sunshine, other days I feel like I'm Miles Away from where I want to be. I hum along a lot, and sing out loud when I don't think I'll get "caught."

On the days though, when all is going well, and I have company in the kitchen while I'm making dinner, I pop in a CD and get heavily into some stress relief.

I recently borrowed the Pure Disco CD from my Sister. Punkin is sitting at the kitchen counter watching me dance to I Will Survive. I'm lip-synching, too. Suddenly I wonder what she'll remember about me.

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