Saturday, March 28, 2009

Can I just get a moment of self-indulgence...


I love to dance. Privately. When no one, and I mean NO ONE is around.
When I am my own private dancer, I win all the awards and competitions. But I am just too shy to ever share that with my adoring fan base.
I am, however, not shy to share something I am super proud of-dance wise that is.
I have included the link to my daughter dancing for her high school club, post high school, and in preparation for her bid at a scholarship/beauty/culture pageant in 2007.
A few things to know about Ms. Beenie...she is a VERY private person, so private in fact, I remember one of my sister's friends telling me that she had never met a kid who so thoroughly did not seek or seem to need an adult person's attention when in their company. She was 7 at that time.
I have never seen that, but I'm Mom, and I am always in her face.
But I digress. Beenie is private. She is very selective about when she dances in public. All the way up to this competition.
This dance in public, a solo dance that we call "taualuga" in Samoan, represents her hardest effort at a task or skill that she set her mind to. A skill I have yet to master myself.
Many of you may say, "Wasn't your Mom a dancer for PCC/Promo Team" in her younger days.
Yes. Yes. A thousand times Yes.
But that cultural dancing gene up and skipped me..and my sisters, if I may be so bold. (Note to my gentle readers, yes, all 4:Please do not think we can't get down on the club dance floor. The awkwardness is only in the realm of taualuga.)
This summer,however, I am having her work with me until my hands are graceful and my feet se'e like they've always known that movement and my body can bend and extend with the best of those Taupous.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Happy Easter from the Easter Bunny! Quack!

Running here and there, and finally arriving.

Finished my RS presentation last week Thursday, and I was fully focused on it for the week leading up to it. BTW, it was on my dad's birthday, and he would have been 67 years old.
I found out some things about myself, that, even though I am gonna be 38, I was still surprised to discover:
1) Beenie's rigidly fixated attitude toward some tasks is partly a genetic inheritance from me. In my need to complete the handouts to be a "perfect" copy of what they suggested, I spent too much money, time and stress. Had I just used that as a jumping off point, I would have been able to save money, time and stress.
2) I approach each "teaching" experience as a performance, so with that, I get the performance anxiety that accompanies a performer.
3) I try to be as good as I always remember my Mom was when she gave talks. She ROCKS! If you have never heard her present, in Samoan or English, you've missed half your life.
4) I missed my immediate family as I was sharing my message with my ward family.
5) My message was based on a story titled "Welcome to Holland" and you should all read it if you get a chance.

You may wonder at the title, so here is a little insight.
My mother's youngest sister, Arlene, who was hands down the coolest and most hip aunty that ever walked this planet, called us one Easter with this greeting. She's gone now, but these words and the little joke embedded in it always remind me of her. It is my traditional Easter sentiment since I was in 5th grade.

BTW, if you have time, go to my sister's blog and get a look into her life and a good ol' laugh as well.