Immersive Moments of Delight

      It was mid-January 2025 and I had a bucket list item to "Go to a fancy dress up ball with a handsome man" but I would be able to check off the item with just "Go to a fancy dress ball." Daisy heard me mention this bucket list item and popped up with, "Why don't you go to the Art Deco Ball on Catalina with me and my dance group?"


What....is...that...?!


It's this!


And this!

Doesn't that look grand and fancy-dress-ball-bucket-list-check-off worthy?!

I think so!

I bought the 20's style dress, with matching feather and jewel head band right away as well as some proper dress shoes. My reasoning was that as I saw that beautiful dress hanging in the closet I would be motivated to go to dance classes which would allow me to actually dance - and sort of have fun doing it - while I looked ravishing in my gorgeous green and blue peacock sequined ball gown.


     So, my next step was to start aforementioned dance lessons. I could only afford group lessons, so I started with waltz. I went to several classes and had various male and female partners. My favorite partner was Michael. Michael was a professionally trained ballet and Broadway dancer who had a kind and engaging personality. He wasn't effeminate, but I suspected he was gay. This made me more comfortable. Besides, he had such a perfect way of holding me and energy which just meshed with my comfort level. I always preferred dancing with him during group lessons.

     One class several weeks ago was being taught by Michael. He had a mask on and stated that he wouldn't be doing any dancing with students due to a minor cold but only instructing from a distance. This worked for about 5 minutes when I said to him, "I have a Teflon immune system. I don't really get sick from others and I'd like to dance with you. I'm ok with it." He was ok with it, too, and I was delighted to have him all to myself for most practice dances.

     We started practicing the waltz and the music playing was this gorgeous stringed instrument orchestral piece. Michael was gliding with me and we were waltzing effortlessly, which felt like floating on air in marvelous swirly circles around the dance floor. It was warm in the studio but there was a cool breeze from the air conditioning vent which blew gently on my face.

     The simultaneous sync of the rich strings among the brass instruments in the orchestra music, the cool breeze on my warm face and the floating in the air with a partner who held me with tenderness and decisiveness was absolutely magical and delightful. I felt immersed in delight, pleasure and pure joy for those several minutes. It was like Heaven beamed this radiant moment on me from above and God was clapping with laughter and delight at my joy. I imagine Jesus was beaming with happiness and saying, "Oh dearest Laura, that is just a tiny taste of an eternity where those moments happen constantly and never end AND never lessen in their intensity and pleasure."

     I was captivated in that wondrous moment, and reflections afterward,  of how much this great and awesome God loves and knows me. He absolutely and utterly delights to give good gifts to his children. 

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