GET OUTTA MY WAY!

DOING THE SOCIALLY DISTANT DANCE.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I’m heading out for my daily dose of fresh air and un-sequestered stretch of time. As I swivel, swerve and dodge my fellow Chicagoans I am drawn into the choreography asserting itself on all of us. But it appears that nobody seems to remember their blocking. And forget about the spacing. As I gracefully launch myself into the bushes in order to avoid another oblivious sprinter it’s clear that technique, timing, transitions and tempo are WAAAAYYY out of step.  

We’ve all got somewhere to get to, but let’s get real…mostly we’re just out and about and then aiming to get back in time to to click into our Zoom-happy-hour-get-ish-together. But one would think that most of us would be able to follow the rules of spatial imagery; where we have the ability to comprehend the space around us. ONE WOULD THINK. Isn’t that how we avoid walking into walls? Unfortunately, there’s a whole lot of tap dancing around harmonious collaboration in this daily street battle of ours.  

When you are JOGGING in my direction – what is your subtext really? Approaching me head on, full speed might make you feel powerful…but it actually makes you look like a total douche. It causes me to abruptly improvise by accomplishing a quick pivot and side step…that puts me in a very weak position…and unable to smoothly continue the dance. A horizontal move away from me at the last moment could mean you were lost in thought and had to make a quick adjustment. (or maybe you were trying to intimidate me…which also makes you look like a total douche). Remember, if we are not in synch…your droplets might find their way to ME! And it’s all about ME!

However, creating an arc around me means you are a thoughtful and sensitive racer…which makes you a lovely human. In that case it’s clear our interaction is knee deep in spatial awareness – becoming a dance of fluidity and commitment.

Now let’s discuss the structure of the duet…or as it seems to be more prominently displayed these days …that ill-conceived couple ‘S P R E A D I N G’. The delicate balance of the we-must-be-side-by-side-at-all-times, while walking in my direction, must also include demonstrated flexibility. Timing is of utmost importance in order to create a seamless transition. While in this loving partnership there should be a lively back-step and then a shimmy on-in-behind, along with a subtle quick-step in order to match the gait of your leading partner. Voila! Now how hard was that? This is, after all, beginner stuff and how our spacing becomes a lovely glissade as we hoof-it past one another in perfect timing.

The cooperative patterns created in the out-of-doors, and the considerate position of bodies relative to one another, will surely serve to enhance the composition of our well executed and flawless dance. So let’s not pussyfoot around this issue. Make those adjustments while exploring the space- but control the shape of the movement. Be a civilized collaborator so I won’t need to grumble and complain to my husband…cause he is about over me.  

No floundering as we draw closer…hit your mark…and JUST DO THE DAMN CHOREOGRAPHY.