5-minute tango with chance

the last thing I was expecting to do was take a chance. pause in my tracks?

tango?

absolutely not. that was not on my to do list, not on this Monday morning.

But something swayed me to the left, to take my headphones out, pause and tango with chance.

chances name was Bernadette.

"excuse me, hello– please can you help me dear"

it was only me and her in sight, she was definitely calling me. I look at the time on my phone, 6 minutes. There were 6 minutes between me and my doctors appointment.

I can see the doctors building ahead of me, to the far right.

Then I turn to Bernadette, she is to my left. A red coat, white hair and no more than 5ft. Standing in the middle of a closed road. Crutch in her left hand, holding her steady.

One small sigh and I hurry towards her.

The voice in the back of my mind reminds me that I cannot miss this appointment. I have not taken a clear, full inhale for the past two weeks. I really could not afford to miss this appointment.

"Can you please help me just get over that road dear, I've just gotten back from the doctor."

the road she points to looks more than 5 minutes away, a small panic seeps in. I don't let it show and hope for the best.

"of course", I tell her, "let's get you over the road."

"I don't think i'll leave the house after this"

I ask, "why ever not?"

it's too much for her. She highlights how red and bothered her face has become.

It's not because of the sun coming out. She had just been told her uterus had prolapsed and fallen out. Gone, just like that. It had affected the temperature of her body. Including her face. This is also known as a 'hot flush'.

"I should have known, I saw the signs, now I have a hot face from it."

"you know what a prolapse is dear"

"yes, I am familiar with what it involves"

I felt the pain of getting hot and bothered.

But this was different.

I tell her that she is still beautiful as we continue walking.

"Have you tried herbal remedies to cool your blood down?"

"No, I haven't."

We were nearly at the road, halfway to be exact.

She casually shares that she is 86 years old and has two artificial hips.

TWO.

Could have fooled me.

I let her know just how amazing I think she is. Truly a woman of strength and grace. She made it all the way to the doctors without me. But I was fortunate enough to cross her path, for a brief 5 minutes.

"I'm Klaudia by the way"

"My name is Bernadette."

"I asked for your help because I could see you have kind eyes, eyes I could trust."

she looked at the road ahead,  

"You see I get nervous here at the crossings"

" it's okay, you have me here, we'll get through it together."

we continue talking and I learn

she was originally from Northern Ireland but due to the conflict between Catholics and Protestants, she could not find work so she moved to London.

For 25 years she had been a dance teacher. She taught everything from tango to jive. She shakes her hips as she recalls, stops walking and smiles soo wide I cannot help but smile with her. Pure joy is infectious.

"I can tell you were a dancer"

"yeah, wore my hips out too"

we be both laugh and get across the road, easily.

I am convinced the happiest women are the ones that dance. Just move to the rhythm of a beat.

Bernadette was one of them.  

we make it over the road.

Bernadette continues to ask me questions about my life but I had to cut it short as I have one minute to make it to see my doctor.

I ask if she has a phone number so I can contact her, check in with her.

" Yes, I have a phone number, it's...."

She hugs me so tight, kisses my left cheek and says she'll pray for me.

"Go on Klaudia, get to your appointment, thankyou for your help...

– make room in your calender for me, we're to go for a jive together!"