No, I am not ready for Dancing with the Stars.

Yes, I had renewed fun in refreshing some of my old dancing moves with the cover story about the weekly tea dances at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse. After more than 20 years, I decided to try a few spins, twists and whirls in shaking off a lot of dancing rust.

Did discover the need for WD 40 in lubricating older knees and joints after completing some old dancing moves in West Coast Swing, providing steel toed shoes for my partner (Ellen Ross) at least twice, and slowing down the dancing pace to my age now: 76.

Did find out that almost anything’s possible in healthy aging and it feels good to trying to do a few things done in younger days.

Back in grade school, I had to learn, with some dread, to square dance. Eight students, four sides, with Miss Dutton, our teacher, calling out dance moves from a scratchy record player and telling us do-si-do, allemande, etc. At that age when I thought girls were still icky, I was forced to partner up and dance with them.

I did like one square dance move — at least when you’re in the 7th and 8th grade — of “swing your partner.” Robbie Morris, a best friend, and I often had to dance with the Farley sisters and wanted to swing them around and throw ‘em to the ground. We envisioned releasing the sisters at maximum velocity and watching them crash in a heap.

Never did do that, knowing it would only have us ending up in the principal’s office and experiencing his board of education for misdeeds.

Those thoughts changed in dancing move in my 20s and 30s when girls are no longer icky.

As a teen and young adult, I always had an interest and lots of daydreaming while watching movies of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Bobby Burgess and his dancing partners amid the bubbles on the Lawrence Welk Show, and Dick Clark’s American Bandstand dancers rock ‘n’ rolling on TV.

I leaned to dance the Twist into a crouch, the Mashed Potato, Loco-Motion and other silly dances at the high school proms, sock hops, and barn and wedding dances. Wasn’t a great dancer, just abandoning any worries about looking silly and just having fun.

Now at my age, I'm rediscovering that ballroom dancing remains a delightful way to stay active with an enjoyable workout.

According to various studies and experts, dancing enhances cardiovascular health, increases flexibility, strengthens muscles and joints, and improves balance and coordination. Learning new dance routines, remembering steps and coordinating movements also provide a mental workout.

Another plus is tea dances are a social affair that brings people together, forming new friendships and reducing feelings of loneliness or isolation. 

I plan to put my ballroom dancing shoes on as often as possible, avoid stepping on toes, trying not to zig when my dance partner zags, and swing my partner around with no thoughts about throwing ‘em to the ground – not even the Farley sisters.

If all else fails, still can try to rock ‘n’ roll, do the Twist (hope I can still get up) or do-si-do.