12.5

I remember when this was the song of my people. And when I say my people, I mean my fellow dancers. But I really mean just me. I can’t recall if my mom sort of forced this onto me, or if it started with my Godmother. It does sound like something my mom would do.. But I kind of liked it. She has a pretty voice, and it definitely rang true to me.

My godmother is the one who gave me the CD. She wrote an inscription inside the case, which the only reason I still have this at all. It was a gift at one of my dance recitals. Usually people gave me flowers, but those always wilted and shriveled. These are the performance gifts that I liked. I could cherish it for as long as I wanted. Or for as long as CD players still exist.

I don’t think this singer ever became too well-known. Unless I just completely missed it. Which is possible! No matter what, this song will always be a part of my dance career, as short as it was. I just don’t really know what to do with the CD. I’d feel guilty if I just threw it away. It was a gift from someone who can’t afford to lavish those she loves like she wants. It meant the world that she gave me anything at all.

8.5

I remember using this for everything. At first it was a general storage box. Then it held what little make-up I could get my hands on. Not that I wore any of it, I just liked the novelty of owning it. I did have to put on stage make-up for recitals and performances though, which is why this eventually turned into my dance-related-stuff-box.

I had everything in there besides my costumes and leotards and skirts and tights. But it did hold my different pairs of shoes, make-up, hair accessories, hair spray, and few other odds and ends that I might need in a pinch, which included a large collection of safety pins. I even started saving my cheek stickers from all my Nutcracker performances. I saw those as badges of honor.

At some point I bought myself an actual dance bag, and I had my own room to store the other supplies. This Caboodle got turned back into a storage box after that. But then a few years later, I started college and had to downsize. It’s been empty since then, as I was trying to sell it in a garage sale. I guess it didn’t sell; I found it at the bottom of a box with all the left over items. I’m still trying to sell it.