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Monday, November 06, 2006Pointe To the Stars
   For six years, my daughter Maggie has dreamed of dancing en pointe. Last week, she was fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes.This is no small thing. In fact, it's a rather Big Thing in the life of a young dancer. Buying pointe shoes isn't like buying flip-flops or a pair of sneakers. It's a fine art in and of itself -- so fine, in fact, that Maggie's ballet instructor met Maggie and four other ballerinas at the dance store in order to personally fit each pair of shoes. As for me? I just stood there gaping, camera in hand. You know that "stupid" feeling that comes over you when you're watching somebody do something you don't understand on even the broadest level? No? Okay, it must be me. Anyway, I'm definitely "stupid" when it comes to pointe shoes. I stood there marveling at Mrs. Cadle's adept pinching and squeezing and eyeballing. I tried to decipher the Pointe Shoe Language that she and the saleswoman were fluently speaking. Nope. It escaped me. So I beamed at my beautiful daughter instead, welling up with the mother-pride that goes hand in hand with moments like this. The beauty of my daughter's feet in a pair of pointe shoes is, for me, a slice of heaven. The Cloud Nine upon which Maggie was drifting, however, dissipated rapidly when she discovered that she would have to wait for her actual pair of shoes. The store didn't have the "B" width in stock. Talk about a Crushed Twelve-year-old. Oy! Still, the shoes were ready to be picked up two days later. Of course, when she tried them on, they were too small. And this time, Mrs. Cadle wasn't there to pinch and squeeze and nod her head. Fortunately, a very helpful woman got Maggie just what she needed (same width, a half-size up), and she came home glowing and sparkling with her pointe shoes and satin ribbons in a bright pink bag. I still felt stupid. But at least Maggie had her pointe shoes. Lest your curiosity by piqued, I'll confirm that, yes, pointe shoes are expensive. This First Pair, however, is a gift from the Very Best Granmom In The World (a.k.a. my mother), who herself danced en pointe years ago. What a beautiful gift for one's granddaughter! Not to mention a beautiful gift for one's daughter and son-in-law, who are sort of breaking out in hives over the potential cost of pointe shoes during the next several years. Times two. Rachel is only a year or two behind her sister. Still. I couldn't be more pleased. I'm almost as excited, I think, as Maggie. Of course, I'm not the one who will be dealing with bloody toes and aching arches. Being a Ballet Mom is far less painful than being a dancer. My beautiful daughter. How I love her! Labels: parenting |
About Me
I am: Mother to five stunningly individualistic children... Writer of young adult fantasy... Passionate advocate for Women At Home... Madly in love with my husband... In need of Organic Gourmet Chocolate on a regular basis. I've got a Paypal account if you'd like to contribute to the cause....
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10of my readers are feeling chatty:
'bloody toes'? You are un-experienced! *wink*
You captured it, very well. An honor to be blogged about - thank you!
And I didn't know that Granmom danced on pointe. Wow!
My goodness, she is beautiful!!
Congratulations Maggie!!
What an exciting day! She looks just like I picture a ballerina...long and graceful!
Very cool. I just had a shudder moment as I pictured myself in pointe shoes. Ever see Fantasia? I'm the dancin' Hippo.
Your daughter is amazingly talented and beautiful(and I'm sure that comes from our side of the family...cough, sputter, choke). What a beautiful moment in her life!
How exciting! I love the pictures.
Jill, I found your blog through Megan and LOVE IT (you really are a great writer - I must read your books)! I especially loved this post because we shared this experience as the only camera-wielding mamas. Aren't you glad we did?
Cindy
(Megan's mom)
Sister -- Why, it comes from MOM, of course! :)
Cindy -- Hey, thanks for "dropping by!" Yes, I'm glad we wielded our cameras, even if no one else did. Now if I can just convince Maggie to let me take some pictures during Parents' Week...
And I've recently bookmarked your family blog, too! Don't laugh -- I did a search for you because you'd mentioned that you blog. And I found you! So now you're on my desktop. :)
A ballerinas feet are only beautiful IN the shoes...
A piece of advise: dont pass allong her first pair of point shoes - Save them - get a shadow box frame and save them. They will not fit the next sister anyway. It is a treasure to have that very special keepsake.
Christine -- so true about the feet! And yes, pointe-shoe-moron that I am, I do know that once the boxes break the shoes are useless and must be replaced. Maggie already has planned to save this First Pair for posterity! :)
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