The news hit me like a thunderbolt out of blue skies , wiping out the day’s busy agenda and focusing my memory on Larry Hoey, brightest of threads in our folk dance family fabric. I saw Larry’s face with that contagious smile that made his left dimple stand out. I saw the blur of his feet as he masterfully whirled his lucky partner (me, occasionally!) through a couple dance or leaped through yet another impossible "Larry Dance".

There are several of these Olympian numbers that exist on the invisible but ever-present "Larry Dances" column on our Tuesday night dance board - just to the right of the "Easy" " Medium" & "Consult your Chiropractor" categories. Pat Dretzka, Viata Romaneasca"s director, told me last Tuesday that Larry is the only Milwaukee dancer that she could still learn styling from. High praise from a fellow icon!

My image of Larry as aloof & off limits to this somewhat shy, average dancer, was finally put to rest when I’d see him in front of the dance board or bump into him at a party refreshment table-( Recipe for a guaranteed "Larry siting" - offer good food) and would work up the courage to converse. To my great surprise & delight, I found a shy, warm & friendly guy with a delectable sense of humor who’d take up any conversational subject and run with it like a star quarterback. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising to learn of Larry’s multiple, non-dancing talents, accomplishments & widespread friendships on this web site - a beautiful tribute in itself, Paul:, and an ongoing memorial service.

Here is Larry, a man so full of life that, after struggling for more than a week, I still can’t speak of him in the past tense. Why should this be true, since I never made it even to the outer edge of the inner circle of Larry’s friends?

The only thing I remember about reading ISLAND by Aldous Huxley years ago were the ever-present island birds who continually filled the air with their cries of "Here & Now, boys! Here & Now!" Science tells us that we use only a fraction of the rational & spiritual equipment we came with during our whole lifetime. We often tend to live more in the past & future than we do consciously experiencing & focusing fully on the rich palette of people & events of the present. 

Their importance then remains on the periphery until they are suddenly absent. Larry’s sudden physical absence re-focused my awareness of the everlasting life & color that he began & will always weave in my life and into the fabric of our folk dance family. It renewed appreciation for all those I dance with.

Even as Larry leaves a gaping hole in our hearts, we continue to be challenged, changed and grown by his presence in our midst, just as we are continually changing & growing one another with God’s help. As you said, Paul, "Death is because Life is; each bound to the other" Sorrow also exists because we have known joy. It would be great to bypass sorrow, but that would mean a joyless life.

Last Tuesday, we danced the Candle Dance for Larry with colorful but unlit birthday candles- not because a life was snuffed out but because our group is prohibited from lighting candles in the ballroom by our Woman’s Club "ladylords", who already rank us 3 miles left of Godzilla. Some saw the unlit candles as symbolically appropriate. I saw dancers carrying them home to kindle & re -kindle for Larry & for all the colorful and light-giving people that God sees fit to grace our lives with. 

Wendy Seaman - Mequon, Wisconsin
hseaman@execpc.com