The nor’easter started last night. Even the sturdiest tree trunks creak and bend with the howling wind. Leaves and pine needles cover every surface. The rain is heavy then light then heavy again. The wind never stops. The huge pine tree in my backyard sways as its trunk moves in the wind. The tree trunks near the deck dance back and forth when the wind is the strongest. Some branches won’t survive the storm, mostly the pines.

I am drawn to the door to watch the wind. It is so exhilarating.

The house is filled with sleeping animals. Gracie’s snoring in the only sound. I haven’t anything to do today. Football is on but not until later. I think I’ll read and relax. That sort of makes me laugh as my life is filled with relaxation.

Every wedding I went to as a kid played the Bunny Hop. My aunts always got up and danced. Almost every person who did get up was a woman. The Bunny Hop didn’t attract men. I always watched. It was sort of a silly dance. I also thought that only my aunts and their contemporaries were bunny hoppers, an old ladies’ dance.

When I was in the seventh grade, I joined the Saturday program my parish offered. Part of it was teaching us to dance. We were all girls so we had to take turns leading. The one dance I remember the most was learning to cha cha. The instructor showed us the steps then had us try them while she stood and repeated, “One, two, cha, cha cha.” We were taught turns and had to practice them a bit to try and keep the rhythm. Finally we were ready. We picked a partner, the music was started and we did the cha cha. We were awful. I haven’t gotten any better over time.