Swing Dancing Through Life

I Can Dance

When I imagine the author of this memoir dancing, I see East Coast Swing.  She’s doing a complicated air-borne feat defying gravity at an amazing pace, hitting the beats perfectly. 

Laurie grew up with a disability that progresses (one of the forms of Muscular Dystrophy), but that never seemed to keep her from enjoying life, and living as she wanted.  She grew up as opportunities came along for disabled people with the right attitudes.  I’m about a decade older than Laurie and there were no disabled students in my schools.  Without elevators, ramps, etc. it would have been impossible of course.  But without people like Laurie pushing for mainstreaming in schools, it wouldn’t have ever happened.

In this extremely candid book, you’ll learn about all aspects of Laurie’s life.  She’s frank about needing help with every bodily function.  She had to get help in ways most of us will never have to deal with and she had to do so at an age when common sense and personal boundaries weren’t yet well established.   There were some difficult consequences.  But, somehow Laurie remains upbeat and keeps moving forward, like a dancer who briefly misses a beat but goes on to continue the dance gracefully.

Laurie has accomplished much.  After reading this book, I’m eager to see what’s next!