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Our Guilding Lights
It was a little more than a year ago that Betty, one of my great inspirations, passed away. She was 88, and I’d known her from ballet class. There was no one like Betty. She’d had a career in musical theater, danced with the San Francisco Ballet and regaled us with stories from her glory years. Even at 88, she took class 5 days a week. Her body was strong and fierce, her skin barely wrinkled. She never seemed to have a bad day. Betty was beautiful and ageless, and she showed me what’s possible. I’ll never forget Betty. Who is your guiding light?
She Lights Up the Night by Jean Jullien
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I remember your Betty post! I don’t have a singular guiding light. Sometimes it might be my best friend from grad school, though. Sometimes my friends Joan and Marga. Pieces of each of them show me how I can live my life.
Betty was a supernova – but you’re right. I have many friends who are guiding lights in softer ways.
Betty sounds like she was an amazing woman! She actually reminds me of one of the teachers here in my local tango scene. She’s in her early 60’s, but truly looks like she’s 20 years younger. Always smiling, with a warm greeting for everyone, she just exudes such vivacious energy. She consults part time for work, volunteers, travels internationally, and is dating a lovely (much younger) man 🙂 Truly an example of fully embracing life.
When I first Betty she was already in her mid-seventies, and she was still sexy. The tango teacher’s life sounds very full, indeed.
And you are probably someone else’s guiding light, Wendy.
I’m so grateful for people who lit the path for me. And I definitely want to pay it forward.