I wanted to be a dancer. But if you’ve been reading #TheCampfire, you know this all too well. My mother, though she never encouraged me, never took a picture of me, had danced. My older sister had danced. She made this rug hooking for me. go to ALT/text for the rest of the story…
You’ve no idea how happy this makes me! 🫂♥️ Thank you
How kind of you, Mary! Thank you! 🫂 ♥️
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What a great story of persistence while chasing your dreams, Susan!
Thank you Kevin! I kinda love how things played out!
Against, well, perhaps not all, but the odds! To live one’s dream is about the greatest gift you can give to yourself, it’s the only way to really sparkle and shine (sounds nicer then simply saying ‚making a difference’) and by that, make others do, too.
I did, in retrospect, live my dream, as you say Sabine, against the odds. Phew. Glad I finally wrote it down. Thanks for reading!
It was a captivating read which to some extent reminded me of my own professional experience working closely with young people. I always found it very inspiring, sometimes challenging and generally truly fulfilling.
Thank you Sabine! I’d love to hear more about your experiences someday!
And don’t know what exactly it is that makes people working in education flock together somehow without knowing about this background. Maybe there will be an opportunity to go deeper into the subject, I just didn’t think it was campfire material.
Ah, we’ll see, Sabine. There must be a place for us to get to know the story of our backgrounds. I look forward to it!
There sure will be.
Magic stuff, Susan. And I needed a story with a happy ending today 💙
Oh I’m glad, Jimmy. Life works in such strange ways. 😊
Go Sue 😆 ladi-dah! 👯👯
🤣
That's a very happy ending 😭
Aww, thank you Indigo Sky! 🤗
i SO understand your story. i never got over my desire to be a dancer but managed to become a decent photographer who loved to photograph dancers. you did great!!
So did you! I love meeting photographers who really “get” dance!
Ohhh wow Susan such a incredible story behind this wonderful artwork have make your sister for you ❤️ and so fine for you that have your found your own way in the dance world 💃💃
Yes, Marjo, and thank you for taking the time away from all that you have to do to comment. It has been fun to find my own way, and my sister’s rughooking is priceless to me 😊
Fabulous!
Thank you Pete! What you don’t know is that at the time of your story, we were living sort of parallel NYC lives, with me downtown on Murray St. in Tribeca, having opening night parties for events at BAM, and dinners with folks like David Byrne 😳. Perhaps stories for another campfire….
I have friends that worked with David on some of his solo albums.
🤯. He was always just outside my orbit. ‘Twas my roommate (again 😂) who was really in the musicians’ world with New Music America, with me booking dance gigs with postmodernists.
Thank you, Susan for sharing your wonderful world of dance and all you had to go through to do the thing you desired most. Your story is encouraging because you persevered and it paid off. I’m so happy for you.💐♥️👯♀️💃🕺
Thank you Dwight! It was a challenge, but well worth every minute. I really appreciate your response! 😊
You’re welcome, Susan! So happy to know more about you. 🙂♥️
Oh, Susan, I’m so glad you got your happy ending! Isn’t it amazing how sometime fate steps in and gives us the connection we need when we need it? And, as always, your story was articulate and moving. I cried🫶
Thank you lauren! I guess fate did have a big had there, didn’t it? Thanks so much for reading along, and for your incredibly kind comments. 🫶
You’re so welcome, Susan😊
What an absolutely heart rendering story Susan. It brought a tear of happiness to my eye! Just shows…dream big & fulfil them. I’m very moved. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you so much for your kindness Kay! It was pretty satisfying to write this down, too!
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I am so glad you followed your heart. ❤️ Even when your path forward wasn’t clear you persisted and it's amazing how things unfolded. ✨ Thank you for sharing, Susan! 💗
Thank you for reading, Katherine! unfolding is a great word for what happened.
That's marvelous Susan. Great that you were able to spin it into a career and amazing that the dance troop is still going. Not easy to create something that lasts. Well done!
Thank you Den. Be careful what you wish for, right? 😂
Susan, I’m happy to hear that you were able to continue your love of dance in a way that was available to you. Staying in the game, so to speak, is better than not playing at all. I absolutely adore the hooking your sister made for you. Gifts made with your hands are true gestures of love. 🙋♀️🫂😊💙
Thank you Mimi, my dance life ended up better than I ever could have imagined when I was younger! And thanks for your comment about the rug hooking. It hangs right over my bed to this day. 😊
Sounds like the perfect spot for such a loving gesture from your sister. ❤️ Will there be anymore stories from you in the future for the #Campfire?
Oh absolutely Mimi! Every month!
Sounds great! I’ll look forward to them! ✨
Thank you Mimi.
Thank you for this wonderful series, Susan! It was a joy to read, and I do love a happy ending. 😊
Thank you for reading it Stephanie! I appreciate you! 😊
Wow! What an adventure, Susan. I‘m sorry that you didn‘t get any encouragement from your mom, but you didn‘t let that stop you! 💐🤗😘
Thank you Jane. My mom wanted me to do something that she clearly understood, like secretarial work, but we never quite saw eye to eye on that (or anything else). 😂 To her credit, I guess moms know how just how hard the dance world can be. Appreciate you reading!
I’m so glad you went your own way! ❤️
Thank you Jane!
You’re welcome Susan ❤️
Wonderful story, Susan! I’m so glad for your happy “ending”, but would argue you are writing a new chapter and have plenty of gas left in the tank.
Thank you Mike! I just had to wrap up the dance story somewhere 😜. I appreciate your compliment - I hope there’s more!
Susan! So lovely! Congratulations.
Thank you Amy!
Wonderful story, Susan, thanks for sharing! 💃 🙏🏼👏
Thank you Gray. I appreciate you reading it!
What a beautiful story and inspiration to follow your dreams. It’s never too late. Thank you for sharing your happy ending with us. 💃🏻
You’re welcome, and thank you for reading, Breonny! And I should have ended with exactly what you said, it is never too late! 😊
Also, what an incredible piece your sister made. I clicked on this to admire the beauty and got so caught up in the story I forgot what brought me here.
Thank you for this comment. This work means the world to me. My sister passed away shortly after she made it. We also have a much larger piece she made for our mother which is absolutely charming.
It truly is lovely. Charming would be a great word choice, too. It’s truly beautiful, and I can see it’s meaningful and important, but it’s also just so darned delightfully whimsical! So glad you decided to share it today and that I had the privilege to see it.
Thank you again Breonny.
Susan, es muy bonta.❤️ Besitos, cielo. 🧚🏻♀️✨️
¡Gracias, Pepa!
Susan, justo hoy compartí a Degas, luego he visto tu post y me ha emocionado. ¡Abrazo grande! 🥰❤️
¡Gracias Pepa! 🤗 ❤️
I've been so busy recently I never stopped to comment, but I've been following along with all your campfire installments, and enjoying everyone of them! I love your dedication to your passion. I look forward to reading more!
Thank you so much Rebecca!
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What a beautiful story, Susan! You had the opportunity of a lifetime! That must have filled you with great joy!
Thank you Jean! I did have such a great opportunity, and you’re right, I couldn’t quite believe it all came off without a hitch!
Everything happens for a reason and you were right there to walk through the door. How awesome 😎
Thank you. 🙏
Big hugs! You’re welcome 😇
What a great life story, Susan!! It's always nice when you follow your heart and hold on to dreams. You can look back happy and satisfied, I'm very glad about that 💕💕
Thank you Rina. My favorite book when I was small was called, “To Dance, to Dream”. I guess that’s just pretty much how things worked out.
A very beautiful story to tell. Thank you so much for sharing yours.
Thank you for reading, Joy!
This is a story of courage, resilience, and creativity. I loved reading it.
I appreciate that Joy. What you are saying kinda puffs up my heart. 🤗
Such persistence- such a valuable and inspiring life skill
Oh, it's campfire time again! So sorry your mother didn't encourage you, take photos of you during your dance days. That's a tough one. I can relate. What a lovely gift from your sister!
Thank you so much Anna! A longer story might have dealt better with my mother’s side of things, but I simply ran out of space. And yes, thank you, I do treasure the rug hooking, thank you again.
Have enjoyed your story, hope you continue! 💗
Thank you Anna. There will be more - but perhaps very different - stories. I appreciate you taking the time to read along! 💓
Am glad to find #TheCampfire, interesting stories abound! Hope you are enjoying your day.
They do abound Anna, and I am enjoying this day, thank you. I hope you are also having a wonderful day!
So far so good 😊🙏
I think #TheCampfire is my favorite collection here on BlueSky so far!
Thank you for coming by Anna
Absolutely 😊
Wonderfully written story, Susan. They say that life is what happens while you're making other plans, and this is a good example, but at some point, you realize how valuable the journey is, and you were so successful at yours. The rug is precious! The design, creativity and love that went into it.
Well said, Alina! And thank you for the comments on my sister’s piece. It means so much to me.
All the details she put into it from the background to lettering your name so many times. You can tell she really thought the world of you.
Thank you 🥹
You're welcome. 🫂
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I love your happy ending! The strongest and happiest people hold onto their dreams but allow them to take them down unexpected paths 💕
Thank you Janet for your kind thoughts! I certainly didn’t end up where I expected to, but I loved the path anyway. 😊
That is truly awesome! I grew up in musical theater. I’m a singer, not a dancer however I was mesmerized watching the dancers rehearse every Thursday night. Such talent 👏🏻
Oh, how great to learn this about you! A singer! I keep learning a little more about people… 😊
#TheCampfire is such a great way to learn something new about everyone here 😊🔥
It is!
i love my dancers❤️
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beautiful😍 ! Susan
Thank you Luis!
🍪🍪🍪☕☕🤎
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What a beautiful story, my friend! 😍
Thank you Moe!
Awesome stuff Susan! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Nick!
Your beautiful story reminds me of a song by Lee Ann Womack. “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance… I hope you dance!” 💃
I love that song Aleesia! I’ll tell you the story of its meaning to me some other time, as it makes me just a little bit teary 🥹
Same, Susan! 🥹 I’ll be singing it all day. I love your sister’s rug and I can’t get enough of your story! Thank you so much for sharing it! 💛
Thank you so much Aleesia! 💛
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Just spectacular! You my dear one are a superstar and this story is so very inspirational.
Thank you Petie. Now it’s time to start writing about something other than dance! 😅
😂 Another book for my list! “The Book of Lost Hours” is here!
Holy cow! What a story. Your first love career continued successfully for decades with great friends at the end. And that tapestry is a gorgeous acknowledgement of love.
Thank you so much Martha! Yes, dance was good to me! Thank you for reading, and for acknowledging my sister’s tapestry. She is no longer with us, and it’s really my most precious possession.
💖Rich memories.
Thanks for sharing your story, Susan! The rug your sister made is so precious!
Thanks for reading, P! This has been such a big reunion summer - it really put me in the mind of remembering life events. And thanks for liking my sister’s sweet rug! It means a lot to me.
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Beautiful! You are a born dancer!!!!💥💥💥
Thank you Radareyda! I do feel that way! 🥰
You just know, even as a young child.
Did you know you would be an artist Radareyda?
A true adventure with ups and downs, and twists and turns. It seems like a rare and wonderful achievement to make a career in the world you’ve always loved. Thank you for sharing this aspect of your life with us.
Thank you! It’s good to know I’ve got a good friend!
I was a dancer, too—ballet, flamenco, modern and contemporary; later hip-hop. Life derailed my dreams to dance professionally. Unfulfilled dreams lead to reinventing ourselves, which I did, and sounds like you did, too.
Yes. I worked in art education too! Small world. I look forward to getting to know you better Anita!
Likewise, Susan! ☺️❤️
