Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 18:55:24 -0700

To:

For some reason, this makes me think about a year ago, when we first met Tony and Wil McZeal. I remember looking at Tony dance and thinking, "I will never, as long as I'm black, dance anything like that...". Yet, here I am, a year or so later, dropping to the floor, kicking my legs and spinning like a top whenever I can.

I used to think that guys did all that just to show out. Now I realize that it comes from a joy of dancing that's hard to express except through dance.

So, now that woman ask us to dance, does that mean we're finally an Intermediate dancers? I'm also thinking about the worst piece of advice Wil ever gave me: To only focus on one dance at a time. Now, a year later, I'm not only proficient in Salsa, but reasonably good at Hustle, Cha-Cha, Swing (East and West Coast), Night Club 2-Step and Merengue.

And, what I've found is that each dance advances me in all the dances. In the end, it's all about body movement and control, and expressing who you are through the dance. You and I are alike in one respect: Others have counseled us about our dancing: You to dance more, me to dance around less, and we have consistently ignored them all. What makes this fun to us is the fact that we are doing exactly what we want, how we want, when we want.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Hurry up and get well.

darnell bell wrote:

> The procedure went well..it only took 20 minutes. The day after surgery, when the sedatives wore off, was a rough one. However, day 3 is a "piece of cake". I can walk without a cane/crutches, but the knee doesn't have full range yet. I KNOW that salsa is out for a few weeks - especially the way that I do it (smile).

> Darnell

> ----- Original Message -----

<>>From: Ron Parker

> To: darnell bell

> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 1:58 PM

> Subject: Re: Ron Parker has sent you an Evite

> Hey, how did that go?

>> darnell bell wrote:

> >

>> Thanks for the invite. Will try to make it.....depending on how fast I recover from knee surgery.

<>>> Darnell

>