Feel the rhythm...in memory of my mom

Today marks the 8 year anniversary of my mom's death.  She would be almost 74 years old if she were still here on this earth in body.  My mom was the one who taught me to love music before I really ever knew what dance even was.  Mom would have me stand on her feet as young as I can remember and dance with me.  She'd say now Joy listen to the music.  Listen to the rhythm.  She was always very consistent that I feel what I was hearing and I always loved to move to it.  I loved Elvis, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton...pretty much anything that she listened to.  Mom played the piano and sang.  When I danced mom was always proud.  She would brag about me.  Of course she wanted me to be a tap dancer but I was more of a lyricist when it came to dancing.  I feel too deeply when I dance...I did make her happy for awhile the years I taught tap but it just isn't in my bones the way lyrical movement and more earthy styles of dance are.  I think I get my grace from my mom.  Even when she'd fall she'd fall with ease.  In fact I only remember her falling a few times ever.  One time she fell off her stool  when I was visiting her from college when I was living in Eugene.  We were watching Super Star for the first time and it was so funny I kept rewinding parts and we'd laugh harder every time.  After she died I just had to have that little stool because of that grand memory of laughter.  Oh so many memories of such a strong woman.  Even when she was weak she was strong.  Always...whenever I dance I know she is with me and proud...knowing who she is in me makes me proud...makes me strong...makes me happy...i can't help but smile more these days just knowing that...i'm happy...