Dear Readers,
I wish you could have been with me at my son’s wedding last week. The beautiful Nuptial Mass was celebrated at Holy Mother of Consolation Church in Oregon with a lovely reception afterwards down the road at a banquet hall overlooking the valley.
Since you weren’t able to be there, I thought I might at least share with you the toast I gave at the dinner; I’m fairly sure you can relate to what I was trying to say:
“Exactly two years ago today, doctors told me my cancer was terminal and I had only a few months to live. Well, I’m happy to report that I’m still here and although I am very thankful for every one of the 730 days I’ve had since January 13 of 2022, I often wonder, why am I still here? Is there something more God wants me to do?
Well, I finally figured it out! I am still here so that tonight I can be an eyewitness to this evening’s demonstration of what Patrick and Cathy . . . have learned from all these many, many months of ballroom dance lessons!
I’m very proud of you, Patrick and Cathy! Mastering the art of the dance is essential for the success of a marriage! It’s why dancing is a big part of most all wedding celebrations.
First, dancing instills in you the crucial skills of coordination, cooperation, and care. (If you can avoid stepping on toes, both literally and figuratively, it goes a long way toward building marital bliss!) But that can only happen if both the bride and groom learn how to lead and how to follow. And of course, it’s essential that you both always follow the lead of the Lord of the Dance; He must continually remain at the center of your relationship.
You probably started your lessons with the waltz, the most romantic of all dances; learning to glide smoothly together in life is important. But of course, life is not all smooth sailing, so don’t delay in learning how to keep pace when the beat is much faster. For those frantic times, the Jitterbug, the Jerk, and the Limbo (where you literally must bend over backwards) are required.
A sense of humor is mandatory for a happy marriage, so be sure to learn either the Chicken Dance or the Village People’s “YMCA”.
To be properly prepared to “lift” each other up when necessary (which may occur quite often), you can either study ballet or the reruns of the last scene from Dirty Dancing where Patrick Swayzee bursts into the dancehall yelling, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” prompting Jennifer Grey to run full tilt toward him and leap skyward as he catches her in mid-air and balances her over his head — now, that’s the lift and support I’m talking about! (All you married couples out there, would any of you demonstrate that move for us?)
Don’t forget, it’s vitally important in marriage to make yourself vulnerable, to expose your inner self, and to push the limits of your comfort zone. For that, I suggest learning both hula dancing and belly dancing.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the general idea; besides, the sooner we finish dinner and cake, the sooner we can begin the dance!
So, please raise a glass to Fred and Ginger — er, I mean — to Patrick and Cathy:
“Dance, then, wherever you may be,
“I am the Lord of the Dance, said He,
“And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
“And I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said He.”*
“God bless you — and keep dancing!”
*From “Lord of the Dance,” 1963, lyrics by Sydney Carter; tune: The American Shaker “Simple Gifts.”
Linda Kelly is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison.