April 2009

LIVING MY DREAM A wish, a dream, a desire, a longing; “Just enjoy life,” my mother told us, her children. She sometimes reminded us that life is too short; words no younger person, to whom life seems endless, understands. To them there is no thought of the end of hanging out with friends, of parties and dancing into the sunrise, of stuffing themselves with hamburgers and French fries washed down with chocolate milk shakes and of always being together. But as 60 draws near there is suddenly a realization, a need to rush, to dust of old dreams before the last chance for them to come true passes. With the approaching of 60 comes anger at having spent years punching clocks and trying to please people who cannot be pleased, keeping your mouth shut so the rent can be paid and food put on the table, and of judging your success by what you own. Sixty brings memories of fun and opportunities missed because of some warped idea of adult life. There comes the realization of watching life slip away while a feeling grows in the pit of a now bigger stomach. You, as I, fear growing old dreaming and saying, “I wish I had.” I am taking the plunge to reach the dream I longed to be my life, the one I did not want to face at the close of my life saying, “I wish I had.” This is a risk. This may make my life crumble and leave me with nowhere to live and nothing to live on. Even worse this may keep others from riding into the sunset towards their dreams. Instead, I hope to inspire others to let go, take the risk, the leap and let themselves fly. My first life of travel was not a choice but a way of life for my family with my father dressed in a crisp uniform standing tall, straight, and still. My mother made wherever we were home so only the location changed and every place with welcoming adventure was the best in the world. Sundays were days of driving, looking at our new city and state, making up games using license plates, and looking out with childish excitement for ant wildlife that ventured into sight. Perhaps this early life ingrained the need to travel, to see skylines of different blue and pink hues, to sit in grass to hear fiddles and violins send notes twirling into the air, and to talk, oh, yes, to talk with strangers to become friends never to be seen again but always remembered and introduced in new conversations. My dream is to travel this magnificent country in an RV. My dream is coming true. These are the tales of my travel as they happen. Some will be exciting and interesting. Some will be dull and uneventful. Bits of my life will be woven in between. Of course there will be many stories about my traveling companions; three spoiled little dogs that some may say are my children. Eddie is a Cocker Spaniel adopted 10 years ago from the pound. Being blind and deaf now has not slowed him down much. Princess, who lives up to her name, came into the family from the pound two years ago. She is about 10 now and runs the house. One year old Charlie joined us last November after being in a foster home with small dog rescue. Here we go into the sunset, living my dream.