Parallel lives - part 2
Graduation day came quickly, and I wanted to continue with graduate work in French while I continued teaching with my Mother in her 8 branch studios and managing one of her ballet companies. It kept me very busy, and earning money at the same rate that many high school teachers did. My good friend Jan had to find a job immediately, and we parted ways. We spent time together outside of school since we still danced together, and still shared our lives in ways that best friends do. One summer I spent in Colorado Springs in a summer modern Dance program with the well known dancer-choreographer Hanya Holm. Another summer I went to Middlebury College, Vermont, to take part in the French Summer program, totally in French, including conversation, writing, and Choir. It was a marvellous experience. We were growing apart, and I was surprised to find out she was planning to move to France to begin a performing career.
"If I don't go for it now, it will be too late," she said. I understood. She had tried out for a performing company in Europe. When that assignment ended, she danced in the south of France. She wrote to me, describing the beauty of the area, "The Mediterranean Sea is beautiful, so blue, with palm trees lining the streets," where she lived. As is true with many artists their income does not cover their living expenses. She wanted to stay in that part of France, and was employed by a ballet school as an English teacher and bookkeeper. She continued taking ballet classes, until the opportunity came to try-out for another dance role.
History repeated itself when she wrote that she was dancing in an operetta, and was so in love with one of the technicians. I hoped she was not going in the same direction as she had those many years ago when she had cried on my shoulder. This traveling company was, "Das land des Lachens" which was going to travel Europe, to Canada to perform for Expo'67, and even travel in U.S.A.
I was excited to see her again after the extended time we had been apart. Her letters had been frequent, and I had visited with her parents, but we had been so far apart for so long.
My friend, Baiba and I planned a trip to Canada to see Expo'67, and I got tickets to see that Operetta. I even bought a copy of the record of the music, and saved the program. I loved the show! Her dancing was lovely, with beautiful lilting waltzes and images of China in the plot. In the end the "lovers" go their separate ways, not a happy ending...
I even met Jan's parents at the show, and we had time to spend together- too little time, though. It seemed to me her parents were always on the verge of tears. They still talked "baby talk" to her, and she to them... their own language between them. It showed the outside world they had a very special relationship, long term, since her birth, and into this family womb no one else could enter.
After our good-byes we still exchanged letters, which revealed her break up. She was devastated, and letters were the way she coped with the bad news. What a good heart she had, to be so often taken and broken...
I went to my first teaching job outside Cincinnati, to Tarkio College, Missouri. I was so excited to finally leave the state, make a move and be on my own. Teaching French, living alone, supporting myself, and building my own life was at the forefront of my thoughts. All my efforts and focus was in that direction. Exchanging letters with my friends, I found out that Jan had moved back to Cincinnati.
She was dancing in Cincinnati, she had taken the brown dog my Mom had, Brownie, and renamed her Heidi. She was teaching at Princeton Middle School, with her years of experience living in France, they really wanted her to join their faculty.
One cold starry night, my neighbors called me to their house. They said bad news had come that I needed to know. I was anxious, not knowing if a family member was ill or there had been an accident...
A fatal accident...Did you hear about that airplane crash? A small four person aircraft missed the runway and hit the hillside. I think it was ice or fog- only one person survived. And Jan did not. So young. So beautiful, and grieving everywhere. Her students, her friends, her lovers all devastated by the loss. Grief counselors at school could not explain why it was all happening. They could only prepare a memorial and try to move on.
I was far away, but when able to visit, I met with her parents, who wanted me to move home and take her job at the Middle School.
When Tarkio College began to downsize, the first department to disappear was French. I was soon looking for another job. I loved working for this college, and applied for other colleges, but found similar situations all over. One place that wanted me to teach: Princeton Middle School. I wonder if the family had recommended me? With a job awaiting me, I decided to move back home.
I taught two years at the Middle School, and two years at the high School. I taught school during the day, taught night classes, Ballet, and helped teach the Kinderballet. That left little time for dating, extra projects, or even a rest. When Jan's parents called, wanted me to visit, seldom I could find the time, but I did go visit from time to time, and reminisce about their sweet child. They did request for my Mom to take back Heidi, and my Mom had Heidi for years, her special companion traveling with her to Florida, Eagle Bay and Cincinnati.
I believed that Jan and I were on parallel roads in life, headed in the same direction, the destination the same. I guess we really were just dots on those parallel lines, and we ended up in vastly differing places. It could even be we were going in different directions. She is gone, her Mom and Dad are gone, even my Mom, Heidi are all gone. I am all that is left, writing this all down. And soon only the stories will remain.
"If I don't go for it now, it will be too late," she said. I understood. She had tried out for a performing company in Europe. When that assignment ended, she danced in the south of France. She wrote to me, describing the beauty of the area, "The Mediterranean Sea is beautiful, so blue, with palm trees lining the streets," where she lived. As is true with many artists their income does not cover their living expenses. She wanted to stay in that part of France, and was employed by a ballet school as an English teacher and bookkeeper. She continued taking ballet classes, until the opportunity came to try-out for another dance role.
History repeated itself when she wrote that she was dancing in an operetta, and was so in love with one of the technicians. I hoped she was not going in the same direction as she had those many years ago when she had cried on my shoulder. This traveling company was, "Das land des Lachens" which was going to travel Europe, to Canada to perform for Expo'67, and even travel in U.S.A.
I was excited to see her again after the extended time we had been apart. Her letters had been frequent, and I had visited with her parents, but we had been so far apart for so long.
My friend, Baiba and I planned a trip to Canada to see Expo'67, and I got tickets to see that Operetta. I even bought a copy of the record of the music, and saved the program. I loved the show! Her dancing was lovely, with beautiful lilting waltzes and images of China in the plot. In the end the "lovers" go their separate ways, not a happy ending...
I even met Jan's parents at the show, and we had time to spend together- too little time, though. It seemed to me her parents were always on the verge of tears. They still talked "baby talk" to her, and she to them... their own language between them. It showed the outside world they had a very special relationship, long term, since her birth, and into this family womb no one else could enter.
After our good-byes we still exchanged letters, which revealed her break up. She was devastated, and letters were the way she coped with the bad news. What a good heart she had, to be so often taken and broken...
I went to my first teaching job outside Cincinnati, to Tarkio College, Missouri. I was so excited to finally leave the state, make a move and be on my own. Teaching French, living alone, supporting myself, and building my own life was at the forefront of my thoughts. All my efforts and focus was in that direction. Exchanging letters with my friends, I found out that Jan had moved back to Cincinnati.
She was dancing in Cincinnati, she had taken the brown dog my Mom had, Brownie, and renamed her Heidi. She was teaching at Princeton Middle School, with her years of experience living in France, they really wanted her to join their faculty.
One cold starry night, my neighbors called me to their house. They said bad news had come that I needed to know. I was anxious, not knowing if a family member was ill or there had been an accident...
A fatal accident...Did you hear about that airplane crash? A small four person aircraft missed the runway and hit the hillside. I think it was ice or fog- only one person survived. And Jan did not. So young. So beautiful, and grieving everywhere. Her students, her friends, her lovers all devastated by the loss. Grief counselors at school could not explain why it was all happening. They could only prepare a memorial and try to move on.
I was far away, but when able to visit, I met with her parents, who wanted me to move home and take her job at the Middle School.
When Tarkio College began to downsize, the first department to disappear was French. I was soon looking for another job. I loved working for this college, and applied for other colleges, but found similar situations all over. One place that wanted me to teach: Princeton Middle School. I wonder if the family had recommended me? With a job awaiting me, I decided to move back home.
I taught two years at the Middle School, and two years at the high School. I taught school during the day, taught night classes, Ballet, and helped teach the Kinderballet. That left little time for dating, extra projects, or even a rest. When Jan's parents called, wanted me to visit, seldom I could find the time, but I did go visit from time to time, and reminisce about their sweet child. They did request for my Mom to take back Heidi, and my Mom had Heidi for years, her special companion traveling with her to Florida, Eagle Bay and Cincinnati.
I believed that Jan and I were on parallel roads in life, headed in the same direction, the destination the same. I guess we really were just dots on those parallel lines, and we ended up in vastly differing places. It could even be we were going in different directions. She is gone, her Mom and Dad are gone, even my Mom, Heidi are all gone. I am all that is left, writing this all down. And soon only the stories will remain.
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