On New Year’s Eve I landed in BsAs, tired but ready to see the new year in with music and dancing. Sadly though, all my friends were out of the city on holiday! Grabbed a taxi at the airport to my hotel for the first two nights, Casseron Porteno, another tango hotel. This one is a little larger than Luna Llena, my regular and favorite place, but in somewhat ill repair. My room had a hole in the floor, next to by bed! Just a tad scary….but I didn’t fall through! Not once!  I was starving and eager for a tasty meal by the time I landed at the hotel, but there was nothing open nearby with any chance of getting a table at 10pm. Luckily the housemother invited me to share supper with her and her family(husband, young child and a young woman, possible a cousin or niece). Their hospitality was impeccable–perfectly Argentinian. We saw just a few fireworks, though they were popping all around, as the buildings and trees blocked our view. Altogether a very soft landing. There is much more to say about the January, spent mostly in Argentina. But for now, I’ll just note that it was a trip not so much about dancing-tho I did dance some, and it was great. It was a visit more about the people. And that has set the tone it seems for the year. I’ve danced very little comparatively. And after a small surgery in March, I danced not at all for more than a month. Now, in  the latter half of April I am beginning again to go to the milongas and practices; not every day or even most days, but once, twice, maybe thrice this week—and not for too long, and not so many dances. Strangest thing tho, on Monday two different woman came and asked me to lead them in a milonga, and today at the noon practice, one woman asked to make an appointment for a milonga set at the next Thursday eve. dance (sadly I can’t go as I have another commitment). But it’s strange….I seem to be becoming noticed for my milonga leading. Well–that’s okay, I guess. I love leading milonga and always have fun. But some of these gals can’t follow me very well…? Can’t seem to move fast enough or feel my lead–on occasion. Of course I am learning too. Always learning. Today I had a small success leading in a practice a new step I’ve learned off the Nell cd. It worked and it was fun–a nice combination involving a sacada.  Everything changes…all the time, so why should I be surprised when my experience dancing tango or my feelings about the dance should change a bit?  Maybe I’m just sad because one of our regular older guys just died——and he was not that much older than me, and it’s easy to feel a bit queazy…….Time passes quicker than we notice.  I’m glad I made a yummy apple pie for my teacher Alex today. Nothing says I appreciate you like a homemade apple pie!