Single Again… Dance With Me

By Kenneth Stepp

Do you have routines in your life? I do. They help me know things. They help me plan my life. I’ve always had them on some level. I think we all have things in our lives to make us move in the right direction in life. Today I want to talk about one of them. One that I miss. 

Most of my readers know some about my journey as a single man. After 24 years with one woman I found myself single again. That’s why I use that tag line when I write. I found my person in May of 2020 and it wasn’t long till my tag line changed. After her death I find myself using my old tagline again. It wasn’t by choice. 

When I moved in with her and we became a we instead of a pair of me’s, I took over the house and errands because I worked from home and she had an office to go to everyday. Thus a morning routine was born. Two and a half years after she left I find myself remembering our mornings. The memories are vivid, beautiful, and haunting all at the same time.

Every morning I got up first. I would make coffee. When she was ready for hers she would ring this beautiful antique porcelain bell. I’d bring her a cup, sit on the bed and chat for a minute. Then I’d make breakfast while she sat on the couch checking my messages for me. Yes, she had my phone and I was fine with it.

I’d set the table and we would eat and talk some more. After breakfast she would shower first because it took her longer to get ready than it did me. Hair and makeup, I do neither. I’d get out of the shower and we would each be at out sink grooming ourselves till we were ready for the day.

She would be about ready to head out and she would pick a song on her phone that worked for a slow dance. Dance with me, she would say. That big smile was impossible to say no to. Then again, why would I ever say no to that? We would dance till the song ended. On the way out the door I would be behind her and wrap my arms around her neck. I’d hug her and she would go.

I’d do whatever needed doing till she was home for lunch. I’d make lunch and you guessed it, we’d dance again. What’s funny is I’d never dated anyone who wanted me to dance with them. It was sweet and tender every time. Looking back it was something I looked forward to every day. Routines have their value. Some more than others. This routine went from being a memory to being a treasure. 

I wanted to talk about this because that routine when we were doing it was sweet but if we missed it I would have been ok with it. That was at the time. Now I am so glad we had the routines that we had. They are precious now and always will be. The first time she asked I almost said no. I’m glad I went for it now.

The next time someone asks you to do something that’s out of your ordinary, do it. And if someone holds out their hand and asks you to dance just go for it. It might mean a lot to you one day.