I didn't start highland dancing until after I'd been out of university for a few years; most start when they're tiny and have stopped by the time they graduate -- if not before. (The reason I didn't start until so late was that I'd never seen/heard of it until I was 22-23 or so; the first time I saw it, I was hooked -- absolutely determined to learn that kind of dancing!)

Fast forward about 10 years -- I had moved to a different state (new job) and hadn't danced for about 6 months, while I found a place to live, settled in, etc.

So, by the time I found myself a highland dance teacher and started taking lessons again, I was very out of shape. I will never forget: as I was wheezing/catching my breath after the class performed a fling, a wide-eyed 12-13 year-old watched me with real concern, and asked if I was all right.

"I'm OK," I said. "It's just that I'm old, and out of shape."

Very sweetly and sincerely, she replied, "Oh, I can't imagine dancing past 16!"

I'm sure she was trying to be comforting, but I was sorely tempted to smack her...