When Hubby and I were dating I would often dream of what life would be like when we were married. I’d dream of washing dishes together after dinner, meticulously picking out lamps and artwork to decorate the walls of our first home, and traveling around the world together before settling down with a family.
When our family expanded, I began to dream about watching them grow. I’d imagine their hair, the homework we’d do after school over fresh cookies and milk. I’d imagine the first time they’d hear the sound of the ocean and the Eskimo kisses we’d give every night before bed.
Now that our children are in the midst of growth and individuality, I imagine who they’ll be as adults. I dream of the careers they’ll choose, the spouses they’ll love, and the grand-babies they’ll (hopefully!) give me. I dream of the days when my house is finger-printless, my pantry is goldfish free, and we can enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Dreaming is good. For me it’s effortless. It just happens. My brain, my imagination is always painting something. But, in the midst of the dreaming I often realize that the reality of life is pretty incredible. What we have, what we’ve built is essentially just a crazy, chaotic mutation of all the good moments I imagined anyway. It’s filled with a little more dirt and gummy snacks than I expected, but it’s by far superior to anything I could have dreamed.
And, while there is still so much more to experience in our journey together, I find myself imagining the days when all of this is just a memory – when two old and weathered adults are washing dishes together and their wrinkled hands find a moment under the bubbles. A moment when it becomes less about dreaming and more about reminiscing. Reminiscing about the journey, the days, the reality of what our lives became. Remembering, laughing, sharing – breathing in the life we dreamed and later created.
That’ll be a good day.
This post was inspired by the book, Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomon that I received as a member of The From Left to Write Book Club. For more inspired posts, you can go the official FLTR website.
Never quit dreaming. Even when you are reminiscing.
So sweet.