Hoopla in Hogtown, pt.1

I moved away from Toronto just over four years ago. And every time I've been back since (averaging twice a year), the same scenario plays out: my initial return to The Big City That Everyone Loves to Hate always feels comparable to running into an ex a few years post-breakup. "Oh Toronto, why couldn't we make it work? We were good together, weren't we? [No.] If only we had tried to work things out..."
Alas, all it takes is a few days/hours/sometimes minutes for the cracks in the glimmering facade to become apparent and you realize that, yes, you are still better off.

But as I skipped out onto the Danforth en route to "Ride The Rocket" (how the TTC settled on that slogan is beyond me) -- rose-colored glasses securely in place -- Toronto and I were quite pleased to see each other, and I was bubbling over in anticipation of the day to come.

Coming across the too-good-too-pass-up rideshare that brought me to the city a day early was truly a happy accident. I happened upon it shortly after The Unparalleled Wonder That Is Susie Burpee told me that we would just miss each other as she was going out of town for the weekend (where? New Brunswick, of course -- I know!) and if I came earlier or stayed later, not only could we catch up, I could also take her class at Dancemakers. Yes, please!

On the bus to The Distillery, I run into Tal. [Please note: this does not technically count as a coincidence. The Parliament bus goes past TDT, 509 Dance, and Dancemakers, so if you're taking it to morning class, you will invariably encounter a fellow dancer. And for the most part, we all know each other.] Tal is moving to Montréal in two weeks. She's a little concerned about the whole thing. I explain that not only will Toronto still be here, in my experience, people don't tend to forget you. I tell her about the funny questions/comments I've received on every visit:
"Haven't seen you in class lately? Where've you been?"
Well, I moved away four years ago...
"Busy with work, huh?"
Well, kind of, but I'm not living in Toronto.
"So, when are The Uptown Girls doing another show?"
What?! OK, really, that was over four years ago!
So, it completely works in the absentee's benefit that nothing exists outside of Toronto.

As if to illustrate this point, the glorious Kate Alton strikes up a conversation before class with, "So Ali, where've you been hiding lately?" [For those of you familiar with my reverence for all things Kate Alton, you'll be pleased to hear I maintained a cohesive, non-(overly)tangent-y conversation with negligible stammering and blushing. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of my talk with Meagan O'Shea the following evening. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.]

Susie's class was, naturally, fantastic. I still love taking class at Dancemakers despite *insert unseemly grumblings censored due to potential political ramifications.* Sorry if you feel left out of the loop; it would be unwise to post such comments on the internets. The dance-world equivalent of a Disney teen-idol's nude pics -- what was she thinking?!

After class, we hit the bakery on Trinity for their delicious sandwiches and then Soma for a shot of their Mayan hot cocoa (so good that, word has it, it's reduced my friend Neil to tears on more than one occasion).
And we talk. How can so much happen to two people in such a short time? She says she could already see improvement in my dancing (Susie worked with Le Groupe), which is ultra-exciting after a mere 3 weeks.
And as I tell her about The Ottawa Experience Thus Far, she gets all verklempt. And then I do a bit, too; how can you not whole-heartedly love someone who reacts like that? In my thoroughly biased opinion, Susie is the embodiment of greatness. And that she makes time to hang-out with me, well, that's just the coolest thing ever.

I remember the first time I got the nerve to speak to her (years ago now): we were both eating apples and at one point "cheers"-ed them -- who knows why? I'm sure it seemed appropriate in the moment. Normally, not a big deal (odd, but not a big deal), but this transpired midway through The Summer of SARS, a fact that occurred to us immediately afterward.
Thankfully, no public health officials witnessed the display because we mostly likely would have been sent directly to a sanatorium.