In Memoriam

by Linda Biggar

   Thinking back, maybe it was destined that someone in the family would become a dancer of some sort, since our parents met at a dance.  Norma may have received a gene in this direction because years later her interest in this activity blossomed. 
     While in college, Norma’s interest in folk dancing was born.  This was the beginning of an activity that gave her a lifetime of enjoyment.
     In San Francisco, she enjoyed participating in a variety of groups, offering opportunities that continued to grow as the years passed.  Moving to Las Vegas brought a challenge in that the dance community was in its infancy.  With perseverance and patience on everyone’s part, the emerging groups were nurtured in size and numbers. 
     Retirement offered Norma time to concentrate on things she enjoyed doing such as dancing and traveling.  Contra Dancing was the focus of a couple of her trips.  When dancing on a ship on the Amazon, their audience were caiman, or ‘alligators,’ in the surrounding river.  While hiking the perimeter of a small village, to visit a temple of interest in Egypt, they were escorted by a security squad larger then the size of their group.  Security was at a high level during this trip. 
     In time, Norma started calling dances, a whole new aspect that she enjoyed. 
     After her surgery, lying in a hospital bed, Norma wanted to call a dance to see how much she remembered.  She proceeded to do just that - from beginning to end, with confidence, without hesitation and without missing a beat.
     I know that is what Norma is doing now!