A tribute to a wonderful friend. A true story.

Elsa enjoys, let me say adores our line dancing class on Thursday mornings.

Pixabay
She is first through the door, first to change into her dancing shoes and first on the floor waiting for the music to start.
She practices the dances at home so she 'trips the light fantastic' with accuracy and aplomb and is a reminder to us all that 'where there is a will there is a way'.

Elsa was the life and soul of our Christmas party, her white hair immaculate above her red blouse, red hat, sparkly drop earrings and huge smile with red lipstick to match.

Pixabay

How we laughed that day. To thank our faithful instructor, who does it for the love of dancing (as most of us have come out of dance groups that were unkind at best and cruel at worst), we got together as a group in secret and practiced one of our fun dances in tight formation with some unusual moves and performed it for her to show her how we have progressed under her tender loving care.
It went well and how we 'high fived' and grew 'high' on the fun and skill factors.

But last Thursday disaster struck.
The day was a little humid and warm but nothing we are not used to on the south coast of Kwa Zulu Natal. The atmosphere was fabulous and the dancing was great.

Suddenly Elsa complained of feeling tired.

After a couple of minutes it was evident that something more was going on. We found a yoga mat for her to lie on and Sally went to the tennis courts and appealed for help. A retired doctor came at once and attended to Elsa. He immediately phoned for an ambulance and paramedics .

She looked around the class, at each of us and asked us to please go on dancing. "Please dance Gypsy Fever."

Dr Ed Greenberg sat with her and watched her smiling and moving her arms slightly to the music.

Suddenly she said, "I'm going........."
With that the paramedics hurried through the door and did their best to resuscitate her, to no avail.

Her husband had been phoned at the beginning to come over and he did on his bicycle as Elsa had driven their car to the class. No one had time to even think that this was a serious matter.

So we have a situation here.
She died with very little warning that she was actually in dire straits and we are devastated by the loss of a friend who meant a great deal to each one of us. We all had been personally touched by her kind, loving, generous and giving nature. We had shared so many laughs in this very room. We had celebrated birthdays, Christmas and Women's Day with great enthusiasm.
Our memories are a rich tapestry.

To actually complete one's life in the presence of loving friends, doing something she was passionate about is to us a wonderful gift.
But on the other hand is Koos her dear husband, her son and her two precious grandchildren who adored their granny. The shock of sudden and sharp loss must be excruciating.

Nevertheless we rejoice that the pain was minimal and her obvious enjoyment of the dance makes us marvel and smile and as a small body of friends we say,

"Bless you Elsa for your unflagging optimism, obvious enjoyment and loving kindness. You will never be forgotten"

Rest in Peace our beloved friend.'

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