Strike One: Monday night class and milonga at Villa Malcomb. I took a taxi and was overcharged. Never mind, it evens out at strike 3. I was late and the class was underway. I didn’t recognize Herman for a few minutes–he had shaved and cut his hair! OMG. So different. I elected to watch–I can easily do the follow part and I would be an extra lead. But it’s a sacada sequence and I am eager to try it.

Herman takes an opportunity to greet me. The Milonga starts and eventually he comes to dance with me. Wow that was such fun. After he kisses me multiple times on the cheek and I’m feeling good. I get a chance to lead milonga and also have great fun.(and attract some attention–who is this old lady dancing milonga like she knows what she is doing and having fun too!) I’m ready to go before it’s over and sudddenly there is Chino! My poor sick friend. He’s there to pick up stuff from his milonga the night before. He gives me a ride home on his motorcycle (YES!!!!) and I give him some silver spray for his bad throat. Altogehter a blessed evening–except for the mosquitoes in the night—ugh.

Strike Two: Tuesday at Lunallena a practica hosted by the lovely Frenchwoman–beautiful and kind–everybody loves Dani. First half hour only men–like bees buzzing around Dani–finally women come and in an hour the place is packed-it turns out to be an amazing practica–theres wine/cheese/crackers etc–people are having fune–Micas and Anjie from Portland walk in! Surprise. They have baby girl in tow–shes 2 somethng and loves being there—the crowd entertains baby while parents dance. I lead a little but don’t dance til the end–then with Hernan who turns out to be amazing—and a folkloric teacher/performer. Tomorrow (Thurs) I’ll get a Zamba lesson–finally.And I think–a new friend to boot.

Strike Three: I connect with Sue, the psychotherapist gal I stayed with for a week on my sabbatical–lives in San Telmo–nice big apt. She wants to meet at milonga–she is learning–so we meet at Malcomb because they have a lesson. In the lesson we also meet Yvonne-from NYC–but originally fron Venezuela. I learn she discovered Tango in Berlin, and quite by accident. She’s a kick! After the lesson we three sit together along with another lovely young Argentinian woman–so two younger gals–two older ones–And this night I really wish I had more Spanish–they were just clucking and chatting the whole evening–occasionally remembering me and cutting me in by translation–ugh. But fun–so fun–we split a bottle of champagne! Twas a party for sure. I led the young Ar gal in one milonga–que lindo! she said!!  Yvonne and she danced a lot–Sue and me not so much–Finally Carl from HI who I’d met in Portland shows up and I get to dance.-it was nice.  I kept hoping one of the older milongroes would ask–but no such luck–too many young pretty skinny gals in the room! Some things never change, regardless the country you’re dancing in. Mikas from Portland stopped to say hi before leaving. I enjoyed the locals dance a little salsa and bachata–One older gal clearly knew what she was doing–fun to see. I step out the door and a guy says-“Taxi?”  I say “Yes” climb in the open door and we’re off. But on arrival at Lunallena I have only a 100 peso note–and 12 in change–the bill is 27pesos–AND HE HAS NO CHANGE–SO, very kindly and generously and with not a smidge of irritation, refuses money–I insist he take at least the small stuff–then he insists on opening my door–he gives a sweet hug (was that the payment?) and suddenly my hair–long hair–is caught in something on him and he has to disentangle–hahahahah–it was a funny, awkward schene–but he said something about tango–you had a nice night dancing tango–que lindo–beautiful–don worry about this –just enjoy your evening. It was like–his offering to the tango gods. Sweet. Strike three and you are HOME, baby!