While
dancing at last weekend’s tango extravaganza (more about that in upcoming
posts) I was pleasantly surprised to find a woman who read my book, River Tango
(http://www.amazon.com/River-Tango-perri-iezzoni/dp/1453865527/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290024257&sr=8-1),
and liked it! Of course I had to dance with her and I have to say it was one of
the most delightful experiences of my life!
It
happened Saturday night at the milonga in the grand ballroom of the Albuquerque
Hotel in Old Town. As I approached a table full of interesting tangueras, one
of them called me by my full name, a rarity since most people can’t even
pronounce my last name, Iezzoni, pronounced ‘eye-a-zone-ee’.
“Perri
Iezzoni, “she said as I came near.
“Yes?” I
said, somewhat shocked at being addressed so formally. At tango events, an
invitation to a dance is often offered and accepted with a mere exchange of
glances. This was a big gathering of tango dancers from all across the United
States so I was doubly surprised that anyone knew me, much less knew my first
and last name.
As we
danced she talked about the characters in my book and remarked on how obvious
it was that I loved the outdoors as well as dancing tango. She expressed a deep
admiration for my ex-wife whom she said was an extremely strong and admirable
woman. Big Jane is a character in my book who is one of the protagonists. She
is to a large extent much like my ex but she is actually a collage of many
women I have known, all of whom are remarkable women.
We danced
again the next night and my new-found friend gave me another gift beyond the
recognition she had already given me as a writer: a tip on how to sell my house.
“Plant a
statue of St. Joseph upside down in the front yard.” She advised me. This is
not the first time I’ve heard this old wive’s tale on how to sell houses and I’m
going to follow it as soon as I put my home on the market.
Thinking
back upon the encounter, I have to say it made me feel somewhat older. My book
was the furthest thing from my mind at the time, probably because I’ve moved on
to writing another book. It will have some tango but no river running. The
river is becoming less a part of my life out here and I look forward to more
backpacking trips, not river runs. It seems now that my days of whitewater
canoeing are more of a memory than an adventure to be planned.
I guess I’ve
moved on in my life and that is not a bad thing. I believe it is important for
human beings, as we grow older, to keep an open mind as to the paths we choose to
old age. I’ve worn a pretty good trail going down many rivers; I think now I
will start wearing down some serious rubber on my hiking boots as well as the
felt on my dancing shoes.
Peace, Love, Tango
Kayak Hombre
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