Dreams

Before I became an adult, before I experienced the responsibilities of earning a living, before I left the security of my parent’s home, I dreamt of being independently wealthy. Having money without the bother of working for it seemed to offer so many benefits like traveling anywhere in the world, sleeping in late, having a new car every year… But the fates steered me toward a life of work, a life without unlimited travel, a life of sleep deprivation, and used cars. I was only able to travel out of the U.S. after I saved enough money to get me there AND back. Sleeping in late was turning off the alarm on the weekend. I am currently driving a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera that I bought with 18,000 miles on it from a used car lot in Norcross, GA. I am semi-retired, Loosely translated that means I was laid off and I’m looking for a job to take me to my 66^th birthday and into the prosperity and independence that comes with Social Security benefits. One of my dreams, however, has been fulfilled; I now have the time to sleep late. But I can’t. After years of rising early I still rise early. I’ve given up on the new car and extensive travel, but I thought, in Shakespearean terms, “To sleep, perchance to dream…” of a new car and faraway places. Not a chance. But now my dreams are a lot more realistic and FUN. I dream of seeing my grandchildren with their children, and seeing my son as a grandfather. What a treat to look into the future. This is way better than owning a new car. I can dream of traveling to visit them in exotic places where they live outside the U.S. I don’t need to be wealthy to enjoy these dreams. But I still wish I could sleep in, …perchance to dream these dreams a little longer.