We bonded over exercise in grad school. Now we were empty nesters who needed to get back into shape. Who knew dancing was the answer?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb51KtvmSH
By Edwidge Crevecoeur-Bryant, St. Augustine, Florida353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlieGnJLHmN
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Friday afternoon. The YMCA was full. At 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XypKfb6cq
8, I felt like I was 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tYtoyQ4JN
,353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOEMYnVcFc
places in a sea of 20-year workouts. I had no intention of joining them. I couldn't remember the last time I exercised! I was only here to cancel my younger son's 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDYN8r8GBx
membership. "He's going to college next month, so he won't be there," I told the coach at the front desk. "Let me get you the papers," he said. I wasn't sure I was ready for my husband Thomas, and I should have an empty nest. After 25 years of marriage, we still adored each other, but our lives had revolved around our two sons for so long that the sparks that flew between us were now just embers. Besides, when we weren't working—I was a university professor, Thomas was the director of research at the National Department of Health—we were helping 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yg1CV0Dqs
my mother, who was recovering from a stroke, or visiting Thomas' father. at a veterans care center with his mother. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrQEw5ugnm
To be honest, we could have done with some tension. Like the exercise we were committed to when we met in high school. I ran track in high school, Thomas 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIUQOkaeWX
played basketball, and our dates usually involved moving around together. Long walks. cycling dancing We could always rock the dance floor, get all the parties started. Even after we got married and our sons came along, Thomas and I took time to stay in shape together. Then, two years ago, Thomas tore his knee playing basketball. From then on we both did exercise quietly ...too easily. We didn't like fast food (I'm vegetarian, , and Thomas doesn't eat red meat), but we ate big portions or went to an all-you-can-eat brunch after church. And sweets! After a long week, we sank into sofa on Friday night - and a puddle of ice cream. No wonder, 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmaD4FgLXh
, we were both starting to look like potatoes. Cholesterol increased and I needed medicine. Thomas had high blood pressure . I knew we had to change, but 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk9jJ21U9m
how?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZYd7EGrHD
Y's graph caught my eye. Zumba at 6:00 pm, 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HzEErszqc
Zumba at 8:00 pm, said. "What is Zumba?" I asked the coach when he came back with the forms. "It's an energetic dance and fitness class," she said. “It's funny. Look!" She pointed to class , where a dozen women were doing samba together. I've been moving like this since , I thought. "Beginner Zumba is tomorrow afternoon," she said. "You should come. ." "I'll think about it," I said. I did, all the way home. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6aQaqO6bt
"When I was at the Y, I saw this thing called Zumba," I told Thomas. "It's a mix of dance and cardio. Tomorrow is class . Do you want to come with me?" "Zumba? Isn't that for women?" The class I watched was all female, but I wasn't going to tell him that. "Remember how much fun we had dancing at the wedding?" Thomas shrugged. "The gym is not my thing," he said. “Don't worry about me, dear. Got it." He had cans of salted peanuts. He lifted the top. end of conversation. clear The next day I went to Zumba beginner class by myself, almost as if a little voice whispered that I would regret it if I didn't. "Are you ready for Zumba?" shouted the director over , catchy Latin beats. "Five, six, hands up and hit!" I imitated his movements. My knees cracked. My calves were on fire. I was breathing hard. But after the first song I was hooked. Our empty nests, our health, our parents — all myworries disappeared in the running of Zumba energy. It was like a door to a whole new part of my life. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxQiTTlSI3
Zumba gave me something to focus on after the boys went to college. I lost 10 kilos in a month. I showed up to the Thomas store one Saturday night. Maybe I can get her to do Zumba with me. "You look great," he said. "But it's not for me." 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmoxjFegqu
Then the next step came to me: the prayer. All my prayers were for our sons and parents. Somehow I didn't pray for us. Lord, you gave me chances to be healthy, to feel great. I also want it for Thomas. I want us to grow old together. Help me 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqiugtxYUD
get him back up and running. Eight months later I was at Zumba, totally in the zone 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnlNuyILyc
. As I kicked my left foot, I noticed a pair of men's dress shoes by the door. They looked familiar. I was looking for . I know those khakis, I thought. And this oxford shirt. Thomas was in work clothes. Has something happened to one of our parents? I relaxed when I saw him hit feet in the beat. Why was he here?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD8mT5kD5c
"Join us!" called the director. Thomas shook his head. I could feel his eyes on me. Our eyes met. He slowly smiled at me. I smiled back, my cheeks flushed. Fifteen 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzdLhLehJp
minutes later, he waved and left. "I wish my husband would look at me like that," one of the women told me. "It was good to see you," I said later to Thomas. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjmZYVwQ5p
"I just wanted to see what Zumba was all about," he said nonchalantly. I didn't push. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmrah71I5Q
Thomas showed up to my next class. Also the next . Every time looked from the side. I have to admit, his adoring look made me add more spark to my move. Sometimes I felt like I was dancing just for him. Class after that I looked at the door. No. Thomas. The music started and my was tapped on the shoulder. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P2mcRt5El
Thomas... in tracksuits! I wrapped my arms around him. Everyone applauded. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsulvnfifC9
From all this watching, Thomas felt a routine. He didn't miss a single step and showed his silky smooth movements. The women were impressed. Me first of all. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMAcunBerd
I played quietly at home. I didn't want to scare him. "Thanks for coming tonight," I said. "Did you have fun?" 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuChaJwXI37
"I did," he admitted. - Sweating helped get rid of my stress. I feel good!" 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjUciBeZPL
"What was I trying to tell you?" I said laughing. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8FftjMCYy
"There's something else," he said. "I like the way you move. You are really good.” 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwNNMpZdHI
This time, when our eyes met, sparks flew. And they have been flying among us ever since. We are so excited about Zumba now that we are teaching classes together. I lost 0 pounds and Thomas lost 55. I no longer need my cholesterol medicine. We take care of our parents better now than we take care of ourselves. Fate didn't just make us move, it made us move closer to each other. Why else would every night feel like , dates?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI9ZabApbQ
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