Typing to the Tapping Tempo

As I am writing this blog post today, my ears are being attacked by a firestorm of loud taps. Tap, tap, TAP!  Ta-tap, Ta-tap, Tap-tap!  No, I am not abusing my laptop keys.  And no, I haven’t gone old school and opted for a typewriter.  Actually, my daughter (who will be 5 later this month) has donned her dress-up shoes and has decided she was born to tap dance.

I actually had an entirely different post planned for today.  However, her new-found passion has suddenly changed the direction of mine.  Just a few short moments ago, this transpired in my living room:

Across the carpet, my daughter stamps--tap, tap, tap.  Not satisfied with the subdued taps, she abruptly changes directions and heads straight for the only hardwood floor in the entire house (the front foyer).  TAP, TAP TAAAAAP!  Beaming with glee, she attempts a complicated move.  Suddenly, her left shoe comes soaring through the air, bounces off my head, and lands on the keyboard of my laptop.

All in all, I’d say this is not the best writing environment.  Yet, all writers know that regardless of external circumstances, we must write.  So, I asked her to keep her tapping to a minimum and to avoid sending any more shoes into flight . . . and on I write.  Tap, tap, TAP!  Ta-tap, ta-tap, tap-tap, TAP!

However, now that her tap dancing has tamed a bit, the tempo is becoming quite soothing.  As she quickens her pace, I find my fingers flying across the keyboard--matching tap for tap.  I have even thought to myself a time or two already, hey, I could get used to this!  Ta-tap, tap, TAP!  Ta-tap, tap, TAP!  Ta-tap, tap, TAP!  I’m loving this rhythm!  I could do this all day.

If you would have told me just a half an hour ago that I would be loving this tap fest, I would’ve thought you were insane.  Who knew something that started out as a horrible distraction could turn so quickly into a quirky creative partnership?

Tap on, little princess.  Keep those fast tempos and glorious rhythms coming.  Let your little feet express your inner joy . . . I know my flying fingers are!