Dear People Who Think Its Easy to Make Something Out of Nothing,
I have been AWOL from the things I love most because I am trying to make more out of the things I need most, namely, my job.
9 years ago, I made a decision to move to Dallas, TX with a friend. I had already finished my first Bachelors Degree in Music and I was looking at Law Schools, I just needed a little motivation. One of the schools I was looking at was in the Dallas area so I decided to do it. I started prepping for my LSAT while I worked on finishing my Bachelors Degree in Dance.
At the time, I was working for my University as a non-credit teacher with a kids dance program. I had about 110 students starting at age 3 up through college level. I had quite the racket going on, and most importantly, I loved it. After I made the decision to move, I talked to my coordinator who started looking for a replacement for me for the next year. She found someone within a couple of weeks. That was okay though, because it was only September and I had until May with my kiddos. I had a new plan, that I needed desperately, and I was okay with it. I was restless and ready to move on anyway. I had moved here for College and stayed a little longer than most to delay the inevitable jolt into the "real world". I had a "psycho" ex-boyfriend who had made a surprise reappearance in my life over the summer that resulted in a restraining order filled by me and granted by the court. I needed to get out!
But Fate, has different plans than we do. You see, that summer, my brothers were on their way back from a boy scout trip in Yellowstone and their path home brought them right through the town I was living in. They were about 30 miles away when my brother called asking if I still had that "cop" friend in town. I was teaching at the time, trying to lead a ballet class and help my brother at the same time. I dug through my purse and found the business card with the cell phone number written on the back. I hung up with my brother and called the number. I had never called him before so I figured, he said if I ever needed anything to call. He answered. My heart jumped. I didn't know why my heart jumped, but it did. He had just finished his shift, but he jumped back in the car and headed out into the county where my brothers were being harassed by someone claiming to be an off duty cop, but could show no documentation to support his claims. I continued to teach my class while taking update calls from my brothers and the "cop friend" on his way to their rescue. It all worked out. The incident had been called in and a State Police unit had pulled over all vehicles in question. The unit on scene was going to write my brother a ticket for traveling to close (he was trying to get the guy's license plate number), until my brother explained the altercation when the guy got out of his car as they were all parked at a construction area waiting on the pilot car. Turned out, the guy was in the academy and a complete hot head. No tickets were issued and when my brothers left the unit, the guy was in the backseat being yelled at by the State Police officer. By the time my "cop friend" made it out there everyone had dispersed already. He called me back anyway. He asked me to dinner. I was giddy. We went to dinner that night and made plans for a movie later that week. I was working two jobs that summer, one job during the day with the University's kids college program, and my dance classes at night. I ended up breaking the date 3 times, apparently a big no-no. He didn't call back.
So it happens, 3 days after I decided to move to Dallas with my friend, we had a football game, and I was in the marching band. As we made our way onto the field, I saw him. He was working an overtime shift at the game, as is our Conference policy (they have to have 4 officers on the field during a college game). He looks good in uniform. I bumped past him (in my own dorky band uniform) and commented "so much for calling people back." I saw him smile. I made it to my spot on the side line and snapped to as we were called to attention. I took my step off to enter the field, halted in my set, and, no! My phone started ringing in my pocket. For anyone familiar with the ins and outs of marching band, that was a big no-no. I shouldn't have even had it on me. I was my section leader and the senior member of the band. But playing piccolo makes it easy to maneuver around as you can hold your instrument with one hand, and our band decorum was on the light side, rather than the supper strict. I reached into my chest pocket, peeled the phone to my ear, and whispered "hello?" I heard his voice. "So, is now a bad time to call you back." "Um, yes!" I looked over at him and he waved. "Hey, aren't you suppose to be at attention?" He asked. I hung up, stuffed the phone away and smiled so big inside! We made it through our halftime show and I floated on cloud nine as I told my friends what had happened when one of them asked if I had answered my phone on the field. The fourth quarter of the game rained out (rain is a rare occurrence around here). He was directing traffic on the highway when I exited the stadium. He was drenched from head to foot. I waved as I went past. I got home and called him. When out for drinks with my friend that night.
And so, fate intervened. While the three of us were out, my ex decided to violate the restraining order by sending my a series of text messages. It was okay though, because my "cop" was there. He took me to the police station to fill out a police report, and since he was there, his sergeant took the case. I didn't go home that night. I fell asleep in his arms watching Moulin Rouge at his apartment. I woke up alone, didn't know where I was the next morning, I didn't want to call him while he was working, so I called a friend. I gave her the best location I could, and she found me. We went out the next night too. We danced to "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge at our wedding, and I made steaks for dinner last night. I'll save the rest of this for another time.
So back to the subject on hand. I had effectively quit my job with the college, but there was the short 3 month dating period followed by the proposal, the marriage, and the inevitable, we stayed here. He was perfectly prepared to move, but he wanted to finish his degree. So we stayed, and now I didn't have a job. I took a job that summer working in medical records. That job sucked. Not to mention the fact that my boss had had her two girls dancing with me for years and was not liking the new teacher at all, so I got to hear about it every week of the summer session until she finally convinced me to open my own dance school. I got one of my former students to go in with me as a partner, and one of our younger (but oldest) students volunteered with us. We opened in August 2005 with somewhere around 45 students, in the hallway of the local mini-mall. By October, I had agreed to rent more space and we renovated a classroom. We did all of this on about $500 in loans from our parents that we repaid by the end of the semester. The following semester we were up to 80 students dancing in the recital. We have been growing ever since. In 2009, I expanded again taking over more space in the same building. We added a classroom and a store. This last year it finally became apparent to me, that there is no more space where we are and we are bulging at the seems. We now have 3 classes going on at 1 time. The third class utilizes the space in the hallway, where we first started teaching 8 years ago. We trip over people in our lobby. I made the decision in February to contract with one of our dance parents, to renovate one of his buildings for us to move into.
Needless to say, we are behind schedule. WAY behind schedule. My dear sweet hubby, 2 of my good friends, and 2 of my teachers (all volunteers), have spent the past 7 days, cleaning out the collection of a mass hoarder (the parent that owns the building), ripping out drywall and plaster, and trying desperately to make our opening day on August 12th. We met with the engineer on Monday, who assured me we could still make the deadline. We met with the city planner and contractor yesterday, who said, there is no way. My hopes and my heart were crushed. I went home and cried. I regrouped. I ventured forth and made the necessary arrangements to be able to stay in our old space for another month or two until the project can be completed. The downside of this is many fold. I have already packed 3/4 of my studio and loaded it into 2 different storage units. I have already started taking apart one of the dance floors in my classrooms. I have already had the glass company come for some of my mirrors, and I have already made arrangements to have my sign moved. The biggest down side of this, is that I still haven't been able to get the owner to actually sign a lease with me.
At least I was able to secure a building to open for classes, because without that, my poor little business would be no more. I am blessed to be surrounded by the support structure that I have, but this has meant that I have had to put my crafting, my writing, and even the precious time I have with my son on hold for the past week, and it is all in limbo for a little bit.
Thanks for listening (or rather reading) to my ramblings. I send you all the best of hope and luck as you try to turn your Nothings into Somethings and always remember that it is not easy. Do not let the negativity of others hamper your dreams. And always, always, always keep in mind that IT IS NOT EASY TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.
Thanks,
Summer
PS - A friend just called to tell me that our Pastor put a plea for hands and help from anyone with free time this Saturday to help at the new building. I find myself truly blessed to have let down the walls and joined this particular church.
PSS - I did not edit this, so if there are typos or bad sentences, I apologize.
