we think we are so funny, but isn't that all that matters?
67 has never looked so good
The Miss America pageant is making me question my dreams. Fifty-three well versed, well groomed and stylized women keep saying that it was their dream, their one goal in life to become Miss America. Although I am having trouble finding virtue in that. It must be virtuous though - they all look so sweet.
My dad celebrated his 67th birthday yesterday. I like to think he has accomplished many of his goals. I never asked him what they were, but, being his self-centered off-spring, I like to think our production was one of his ultimate goals. Last night, 4 of his children sat around his table and with complete ease filled 4 hours of time with words and laughter. I think this is one of my goals. Can I get my kids to really love having face time with each other?
This is what we do.
I am not good at learning lessons, but I think that I have learned that we should hope our dreams change. That the ultimate dream should never actually happen because if it does, then what? If we aren't always learning something, then what are we doing?
Watching the news on Haiti the other day I was almost in tears.
I wasn't in tears when people were pulled from the rubble (that produced gasps of astonishment and lots of denial - I try to imagine that catastrophes like that are impossible, and I try my best to disconnect and continue on with my life here), but I cried when an elderly volunteer doctor said:
"Being here is a life changing experience...a life changing experience...even if I don't have a lot left." I sensed the absolute truth in that statement when he said it. Why shouldn't we have life changing experiences at any moment in our lives?
(I know - too many questions in one post and the connections are really loose...I am getting there).
Dreams are like creative muses. They are not things we create or control like we might think. We have to stay open to them in order to really capture their essence, but not being ready for them is okay. In time, another will present itself and we will surely be ready. Watching author Lizzie Gilbert give this lecture really clarified that feeling I had when the doctor spoke and the feeling I had during the four hour chat last night.
So Miss Americas, if this dream skips over you, hold on to those beautifully styled dresses and chicken cutlet inserts and butt glue because there will be other dreams coming your way and you will need that stuff.
my thoughts were in the same that evening... you should take a peak at the card i wrote to dad while the laughter, giggles and conversing continued in the kitchen ~ although my mind not away from it for a minute. don't believe many families can say the same, although i always believed that every family did have what we had... some days i like to continue to dream as i did when i was a child
ReplyDeleteMy mother always believed the world was like baking. That might not make sense to you, but take a loaf of bread. Mix it, knead it, then walk away, and when you come back it was something you were aspiring to make all the while, but you just had to let it go on by itself for a bit so it could reach its full potential.
ReplyDeleteI think some dreams are like that, you need to let them idle for periods of time to refresh your focus and direction.
Probably why she was such a good teacher, just viewed the kids as her doughboys. ;-)