Bye Bye Mr. Heinz

For several of my followers, you are quite aware of all the anxiety, fear and angst I go through just to make myself go to Mr. Heinz's class when I'm not stymied by work, fear or natural disasters (thanks, blizzie!). So to finally not feel anxiety and not need my armor of black was pretty cool tonight. 

I worked late because I was out of the office sick for two days before an upcoming event. I get home in time to layer up for class, gather up Spunk, pay for an hour of parking and dash to class. 

However, without notice, acknowledgment or sideways glance, Mr. Heinz's cancelled class tonight - maybe one hour prior to start. Seeing as I don't live close and offered to pick up Spunk in the process, I didn't see that class was cancelled before layering up and packing down to haul cookies to the studio. Spunk and I arrive just as one of the owners and a fellow regular come out the studio door in boots, coats and scarves. 

"I sent you a message." the owner says to Spunk. I obviously don't come regularly enough to warrant an email but I'm not offended. "He was tired or something." The other regular isn't looking too happy about this turn of events either.  

Not only is class cancelled tonight - Wednesday night class is cancelled. Indefinitely...I guess until he's not tired on Wednesday anymore.  

I offer Curly (the other regular) a ride because she's waiting for the bus. As I drop off Spunk and Curly, I think about all the effort it takes for me to come to Mr. Heinz's class. So I'm not offended that class is cancelled, I'm pissed. 

There are times when I, as a teacher, am tired and I don't want to teach or I just want to go out with friends or do something completely different - but I don't because I have students that put in time and effort to make it to my class. I had a student taking the TRAIN FROM OAK PARK to take my belly dancing class. I couldn't just CANCEL because I felt tired...how inconsiderate would that be. 

And while I volunteered to drop off my fellow regulars, how much longer would their nights have been if I hadn't offered them a ride home?

Mr. Heinz doesn't teach another beginner class. So bye bye Mr. Heinz. Maybe I'll see you next lifetime.