Julie LW sent on March 12 2021

Not Dancing in Lansing, one year later

Well hello - Here we are - one full year since Covid was declared a Pandemic. One year ago last Sat, on March 7, 2020, we gathered to celebrate Bob Stein’s upcoming 85th birthday. English country in the afternoon - potluck -and contra in the evening, with Gaye Fifer and hot tunes from Big Fun.

I know I thought, back in March and April, that surely we’d be dancing again by Fall. Surprise, surprise.

I’m very thankful that, as far as we know, no cases happened due to the dance on March 7. With the first Covid-19 case reported in Michigan a few days later, we know it was out there- it just didn’t come to the dance- whew!

I’m missing seeing all your smiling faces and gathering together to enjoy music and the fun of dancing together.

The dance committees from Ten Pound Fiddle, and Looking Glass met last month, and plan to meet again soon to talk about what comes next. The rollout of the vaccines is a positive sign that we may be able to come together and dance. Right now, we are hoping to be able to gather to dance by New Year’s Eve. We’re taking a “wait and see” approach to the upcoming fall. Depends on vaccines and mutations and limiting community spread. Early on, Dr. Fauci said, “The virus makes the timeline” - so we are listening to experts and waiting to see how it all plays out.

We are planning to gather in person- just for fun - at Lake Lansing Park - North on Sat May 22. We’re pretty sure we can find some musicians to serenade us, but we won’t be doing any called dancing. I suppose you and a person with whom you share a household would be able to share a waltz. Just not too close to other dancers! More details about this will be coming closer to the date.

I hope you are doing OK and staying safe. I’m really enjoying this warmer weather, but as a native I know that we probably have not seen our last snow fall. But real spring will be here before we know it.

Julie LW

PS- I still haven’t gotten my photo albums caught up! I guess it wasn’t time, just motivation.