Tutu Cheerful

As a 4-year-old, I remember dressing up in my pink tights and black leotard, dancing 'round and 'round in our humble kitchen, with its rusted metal cabinets and the occasional cockroach darting across the "brick" linoleum floor, to the tune of Johann Strauss's "The Blue Danube." Me, not the roach. My father would place the 33 1/3" black, ridged disk on top of the turntable, and the needle would scratch, crackle, and pop its way through a melody that will forever live in my heart and mind. Pum... pa... rum... pum pum. Pum pum. Pum pum. Ahh... 

[Insert sound of needle zipping across vinyl record as it's pulled off in haste]

I hate ballet. There, I said it. Actually, I think I've said it a few times before. But, what about Strauss, you ask? I still love "The Blue Danube" and the memories, but I dropped out of ballet when I was 5 and again during my Freshman year of college. After about 2 classes that counted toward my electives, I exchanged my barre for bowling. The shoes were a little more pungent, but what the heck.

Thus, my poor daughter whose love for all things pink, spinning, and classical has created quite the conundrum for me. At this point, you're probably thinking, "Sheesh, lady." And, if you must know... YES, it is just all about me (either read that with sarcasm or just let it go). But, aside from that, we've tried ballet for her twice, and let's just say... the experiences were tutu painful. Sort of like my jokes.

While I'd love for her excel at something more athletically appealing and less sleep-inducing, such as tennis, she's just not quite there yet. And, I've always said that I would never let my daughter become a cheerleader. Remember this is all about me (again... don't forget to add the sarcasm). 

So, tonight, as I pulled her cheer uniform out of the dryer for her very first pep squad performance tomorrow, I just wanted to... well... DANCE! My sweet little mini me ballerina wannabe is finally going to exercise her desire to dance and twirl and perform and shine! 

And, I'll be right there on the sidelines taking 1,000 pictures and humming "The Blue Danube."

Stock Photo - Cheer