Culture Shock Argentina is the title of a book my daughter Hope gave me to help prepare me for my visit to AR. And it did, kind of. But I never really felt shocked so much until I returned home a month ago to Beavercreek, OR. Every day for four weeks I thought only of getting back to Buenos Aires and my friends there. The pain of separation was surprising and the longing to return just lingered and lingered. A week ago my tango tgeacher Alex told me, “Don’t worry, in a couple more weeks you’ll start feeling better -you’ll still have your memories but you won’t be pining all the time for BsAs.” I thought he was totally wrong in this case. But I have been dancing a lot–almost every day. This week I have been out to the milonga every day so far–four in a row–and every night I have danced a lot. Tonight a lovely youn g man came to dance with me for the first time–Nate. He’s subtle and complex–the kind of dance I love . . .after the first song of the tanda he looked at me and said, “Wow you are really good–how long have you been dancing?” “All my life,” my standard reply–and it’s true, mas o menos! I also danced with MoMo-an amazing tanda of milonga–really lovely and creative–with MoMo I really connect–I don’t even think, I just move to the music. It’s very cool. MoMo is a tango rapper–quite a rareity this one! He’s destined for some stary days ahead. I had several other tandas tonight, dancing most of the time and stayed to closing before driving the 40 minutes back to Beavercreek. I have decided to go back BsAs as soon as possible–maybe end of January-for a few days, maybe 9 or 10. I need to touch bases, gather some more stories from my young friends for the writing project I have started and just reconnect. My time in BsAs took on a dreamlike quality and in a way I could let it be just that–But it was real, very rich and deep and wonderful and real. This first return trip is a pinch just to make sure.