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Our Weekly
Letter
Previous Weekly
Letters
Hello everyone
I hope that the cold weather has not kept you inside and I also hope that you
have escaped the flu that is going around. We are lucky here and have not
contacted it.
We are counting the days until we launch our contest season with 3 events on the
weekend of January 29th: Kansas, Mavericks and Curtain Call Contests.
They have grown immensely from last year and we are looking forward to a very
successful season. We have 3 guest dance masters teaching workshops for
the participants in the Curtain Call Classic. They are Trisha Owens
(modern), Holly Owens (lyrical) and Susie Shaw (funk). These workshops are
FREE to the participants and their directors. If you have not received a
contest handbook and are interested in attending one of our contests, we can
send one to directors by your E-mail response and please include your address.
If you are a soloist and would like information, you can either indicate this in
your e-mail or find information on our web site.
For parents and families attending our events, please watch our web site for a
link to a map for each contest that you can print for your convenience.
Within a week of each event, watch for contest results to be posted. Below is a
passage shared by a friend that reminds us to show our love to our parents and
family. It is a good example of avoiding regrets that can never be mended.
I hope you enjoy it.
Joyce E. Pennington, Pres. CEO
American Dance/Drill Team
and the rest of the ADTS office staff
THE TIME IS NOW
I had a marvelous mother who loved me, sacrificed for me and helped me in
every way possible. In all of my growing up, through college and
eventually marriage, my mother was always at my side. And when I needed help
with my little ones, she was there for me.
Today, we buried that wonderful woman. Can you imagine how I felt when I
returned from the services and found this poem in her desk drawer?
THE TIME IS NOW
If you are ever going to love me
Love me now while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings
Which from true affection flow
Love me now while I am living
Do not wait until I am gone.
And then have it chiseled in marble
Sweet words on ice cold stone
If you have tender thoughts of me
Please tell me now
If you wait until I am sleeping
Never will be death between us
And I won't hear you then
So if you love me, even a little bit
Let me know while I am living
So that I can treasure it.
Now she is gone and I am sick with guilt because I never told her what she meant
to me. Worse yet, I did not treat her as she deserved to be treated. I
found time for everyone and everything but I never made time for her. It would
have been easy to drop in for a cup of tea and a hug but my friends came first.
Would any of them have done for me what my mother did? I know the answer.
When I called mom on the phone, I was always in a hurry. I feel ashamed when I
think of the times I cut her off. I remember too, the times I could have
included her and didn't. Our children loved Grandma from the times they were
babies. They often turn to her for comfort and advice. She understood
them. I realize now that I was too critical, too short-tempered, too stingy with
praise. Grandma gave them unconditional love. The world is filled with sons and
daughters like me. I hope they see themselves in this letter and profit from it.
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