A Very BAD Dream
Once upon a time my mom was in a very similar place to where I am in life right now, only I have never connected to that fact until now. Being the free-spirited adventurer that I am, it’s easy to miss the dreams with less glitz and glitter; the ones that are rooted and grounded in place, family and tradition.
Dreams are as unique as snowflakes. Only the individual can know one’s dream and it evolves as we truly connect to our perfect paths. No one can tell us, or figure it out for us. We have to know what our pot of gold looks like or we just end up chasing rainbows.
I’ve always been drawn to risk takers. A couple of my best girlfriends in Austin have also recently left the traditional path and are pursuing entrepreneurial ventures of their own. (BTW-If anyone needs the best hair of your life or if you know a deserving elementary school teacher in need of being appreciated, shoot me an email.)
Several more of my friends have long been on a non-traditional path. I am fortunate to have in my circle of people: an artist/landscaper, a photographer, a restaurant owner and an actor/musician, all who answer only to themselves ultimately every day. I am so proud of all of them!
My parents had their dreams too and they live very happily in them everyday. That’s something my selfish 18-year old person or my passionate, fiery red-headed 28-year old self and until recently, my dream-chasing, 30-something self failed to recognize. I have always felt that they didn’t understand my pursuit of my dreams but this week I realized I never bothered to really understand theirs.
My father has had a 40-plus year career with the school district and still loves his job. He could have retired a couple of years ago, but he’s waiting for my mom. He warms and brightens so many peoples’ days with his congenial smile and genuine way everyday. Everyone knows his work truck and waves at him as he passes from school to school with the daily essentials.
Then there’s my mother, who at 42 had to find a new career. I remember this so vividly but not from her point of view, from mine. My Mom and Aunt’s daycare business of 15 years closed and she had to find a new job with retirement benefits.
“I was scared to death Cari,” she told me the other day.
I never knew that.
She’d been a business owner and a teacher of 2- and 3-year olds. She taught hundreds of kids over the years at the Learning Tree and makes Mary Poppins look like an intern. When I found out she was going to become a secretary and not work with kids directly, it pissed me off. I wanted her in the classroom molding the minds of our youth. It didn’t seem fair to me that she had to sit behind a desk.
When you’re truly meant to be someone though, a desk doesn’t stop you. Every year at Yankee Ridge, which is also the grade school that my brother and I went to, they have a BAD day. It stands for Beth Appreciation Day and the students in the behavior disorder program, all the teachers and staff celebrate and dedicate an entire day to my mother.
How naive I was as a teenager to think that my mother wouldn’t find her perfect path. She absolutely still works her magic with children and her light shines brightly. Whether it’s an independent or traditional path we’re on, our dreams are about letting our light shine so we can find our pots of gold.
Dad, Mom, Me and Little Bro at Busch Stadium for a Cardinals game. Too bad Mom and Dad won’t get to see Game 6 after all, but there’s always next season!