[Tango-L] The Irony of Posting Now

[Jocelyn Paine]

I find it ironic (in this definition: incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result) that at the crux of what may be the fading away of this List I have found my voice in posting. Yet . . . I understand. I am in the “seasoned” and minority category of dancer, classical music audience member, lover of paper books and bookstores. I have organized and run groups of several types and over the years have found they often have a discreet life-span. Five years, seven years, very lucky if reaching fifteen years. By those standards, this List has longevity!

It takes a while to make a good friend. There’s the initial flare of interest, the embracing of mutual likes, the shared breath of experience, the acknowledgement of investing time together. See where I’m going? From cabeceo to abrazo to serial tandas. Then we hear La Cumpasita. . . .

I live in Alaska. Here long-time residents know about the danger of making close friendships with recent arrivals, or even with folks who have lived here for longer than the five years it takes for the cold weather to thicken their blood. All too often, in fact, four times since I moved here in 1978 (every Alaskan knows the year they first relocated) I’ve lost good friend for, however one says, “Oh, we’ll stay in touch, it won’t matter,” it does matter. We always fall out of contact, preserving only good memories and a sad place in the heart. But I have never believed that future possible hurt is a reason not to love. 

I have experience in letting go. 

Jocelyn Paine
(907) 276-8195
PO Box  91366
Anchorage, AK, 99509
http://www.jocelynpaine.com/
http://movementrelaxationtherapy.com/Home.html