Roots, rocks, Salsa… this a Salsa music

If you see me Salsa dancing, you might see a hint of my half Cuban, half Puerto Rican roots… Salsa just runs in my veins. I’ve always loved dancing, but never took the time to do it more than just every other family wedding or every other outing 6 months apart that just happened to end up at a Salsa dancing place. Though, 2008 has become the year of me doing the things that make ME the happiest. And, it just so happens that dancing is on top of the list.

There is nothing in this world that makes me happier and more in tune with where I come from than Salsa dancing. Thanks to a really good friend who would always say “let’s go Salsa dancing!” I started dancing on a regular basis. Now, I just can’t get enough of it. Not only is it bringing out my roots, it is also giving me new friends, many nights of joy and an overall sense of satisfaction.

Now, every Wednesday night I have a commitment to myself, my dancing shoes and my new friends. Now, I look forward to every Wednesday!

Thanks Katherine!

Al ritmo de bomba y plena…

For those non-Spanish speakers, that would mean “to the rhythm of bomba y plena”. I know, I know, there are still two Spanish words, but those can’t be translated. Bomba y plena is Puerto Rico’s folkloric dance, dated back to when the Indians and Africans first inhabited the Island. For those of you who may not know how Puerto Ricans came about, we are a mix of Indians, Africans and Spanish. Indians where the first to live there, then came the Spanish when they “conquered” the West and then the Africans who were brought as slaves. (it kinda sounded like a kids song, didn’t it).

Although Puerto Rican’s love dancing and music, our folkloric music is not played on mainstream media. You’ll mostly hear it during festivals or national events. So, to come about MY music while going out Salsa dancing in Mountain View, CA, was as sweet and delightful as a mid-summer night dream. Also, there aren’t many of us in this neck of the woods, so let’s just say I had a moment…

I let the music bring out my roots, loosen up my hips and let my “shake what your mama gave you” side come out. For those 4-5 minutes, I was in heaven. Didn’t bothered if anybody was around me or looking at me. For those few minutes I was Zilaida, the Puerto Rican girl who traveled miles in seconds and went back the Island where the sun is always out, the sand is white and the palm trees remind you the wind is blowing and you are alive.

I shared that moment in time with a really good friend who’ll be moving away for a year to follow her dream, so yes, it was a great moment. I went, I danced, I lived, I am. Boricua aunque naciera en la luna… Puerto Rican even if I was born in the moon.

Came what may…

So it looks like I should have followed my instincts, go with my guts…. And “drop him off the curb” a couple of weeks ago…maybe when I told him I was sick and he chose not to see me to avoid the slight chance of getting sick. Why didn’t I? Don’t know and won’t waste time thinking about it either.

Since I’ve been all about saying what I need to say, I guess I should not hold myself back and write. Not out of resentment, I guess if you take him out of the equation and put someone else in his place I would be feeling the same way, but out of “put it out in the world, and things will get back into place”.

I guess I knew the moment the door opened that there was nothing else there…well, I guess we both knew. Why did he have to speak his peace and ruin what could have been a better way to end the evening off, and everything else for what matters, I don’t know. I do know that HE wanted to make sure I knew that HE just didn’t feel the same way, HE has all these other things HE wants/needs to do, and that HE just wanted to say it in person because HE has to learn how to deal with “this type of situation”? I guess I had seen A,B,C things about him and had missed, or ignored D,E,F, which included selfishness. Ouch! Then again, not resentment, just putting it out there for there world….

My nice side would say that underneath it all HE is still a nice guy and that at some point he might have got scared or overwhelmed , but my “out of my comfort zone” side just thinks that well, it was meant to be the way it did. I had to step out, jump, take a leap… and learn the hard way.

I learned that I should never, ever “make a priority someone for whom I’m only an option”… (Although this one looks more like a reminder that hopefully next time I’ll remember). I also learned that sticking with my instincts will save me time, energy and efforts. And that, although I might not know which of the three or why, HE came into my life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

I know I could have said this yesterday, but it probably wouldn’t have come out this way. Also, there are things better not said out loud when there are feelings involved that might be hurt, especially if it’s not yours. Plus, I think the ABC-DEF part might have come out too strong. So by writing it I can say… Came what may… and now I also spoke my peace.