Early in our family of two boys and two girls, my parents gave the boys piano lessons and the girls dancing lessons. I didn’t realize at the time that I would be able to play the piano as an elderly woman, but I sure couldn’t do the handstands, cartwheels, and flips I did as a youngster.

I took dance lessons in Redwood City, graduating to a more advanced class in San Carlos, and finally graduating to a studio in San Francisco. I had always wanted to be a June Taylor Dancer on the Jackie Gleason Show, or perhaps a Radio City Rockette in New York City.

Dancing in San Francisco with Mason-Kahn, I would take the bus from Redwood City to San Francisco, walk down the alley to Market Street, then to the Embassy Theater. Mason-Kahn was on the floor above the theater. I took tap, ballet and acrobat there for several years and several times a week. Pat Mason taught ballet while her husband, Stan Kahn, taught tap and acrobat. Stan Kahn also did the choreography for the Ice Follies.

During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I wanted to attend our school’s Friday night football games, but I knew I had to get up early Saturday morning for my bus ride to San Francisco for all-day lessons. During that time, my “dates” would pick me up after my lessons at the Redwood City bus depot and we would go to dinner or to a movie. Not sure where that energy came from, but it is surely gone now!

During my junior and senior years in high school, another student and I were leaders of the “Cherokettes,” a group of about 25 female students who did line dancing during half-time at the football games. We dressed in purple and white fringed short outfits including feather and headband.

My Saturday and/or Sunday Mason-Kahn dance performances were often held on stage at the Fox Theater in San Francisco, or at the old Kezar Stadium. I had films of my 49ers half- time show performances. The films of Y.A. Tittle, Hugh McElheney, Matt Hazeltine, and others burned in the Camp Fire, as well as my pink satin en-pointe (toe) shoes, but fond memories remain.

Today, neither brother plays the piano and sister married right out of high school and started her family. I took many dance classes through college and the local parks and rec departments as an adult, but these days I’m just good for walking. My dilemma was resolved when I married at age 23.