It’s time for another Global Writing Challenge prompt. Our current membership consists of Deb’s World, Suzy Turner, Rosie Amber, Within a World of My Own, Once Upon a Time, Happily Ever After, and me. I chose this month’s theme and can’t wait to read everyone’s take on it! On top of the wonderfully different opinions and thoughts, the writing itself is wonderful! I hope you’ll visit all of these blogs because you are going to be amazed at, not only the diversity of ideas, but the stories of each person. There’s also a link party at the end of this post!
If you’d like to join us, here is the prompt for the next month:
- May – Water
I really couldn’t decide what way to go with this prompt. I was always known for my weird and vivid dreams when I was teaching. That continues to this day. I also dream in color. The unfortunate thing about dreams is that if you don’t recount them right away, you probably forget them within moments of waking up. The exceptions to that are repetitive dreams, and I’ve had a few of those. But, as you will see, that’s not the route I chose to take.
Hopes and dreams…
When I was a little girl, all I wanted to be when I grew up was a teacher. I remember one of the ladies in our neighborhood. She babysat gobs of kids, and I would go there all the time. She lived just two doors down from us. She was also one of the Sunday School teachers at the church I attended. I remember asking her once how much money she made because a Sunday School teacher was the same as a schoolteacher, right? When she told me nothing, I was shocked! It took me a few years to figure that one out! I used to have “school” for any kid who would come to our house. We had an unfinished basement, but one of my parents had tacked a chalkboard and some kind of magnetic board to one of the walls. We had two desks (I still have them) and an old-fashioned telephone stand (still have that, too). I used that as my desk. I even made up worksheets. Of course, when I taught “cursive,” all we were doing was making doodles on the page. That was probably my biggest dream of all. And, I achieved it at the ripe old age of 32.
Weddings…
When I was a teenager, I would plan my wedding at night when I couldn’t fall asleep. I would pick out the flowers (white roses with a few palest of pink ones scattered in), design the dress, and plan the cake…all as I was waiting for sleep to overtake me. Then, I met Nigel and began planning in earnest. I bought my wedding dress at Fishman’s, a mom-and-pop store at the mall. I think it was the first one I tried on. It had long sleeves, and we were getting married in June in an un-air-conditioned church! Of course, weddings weren’t quite the occasion they are these days. I think we met with the florist a few months before the wedding. I really, really wanted roses, but the man (yes, the florist was a guy) told me more roses were used in funeral arrangements than bouquets. I just think he had picked up on we were working within a budget. I had a nice bouquet…white spider mums. But, that’s my only regret from my wedding. I wish I’d have said, “Nope, roses are what I want, and roses are what I’m having.” My dream of finding my soulmate and marrying him was achieved at the ripe old age of 18. I hear those gasps…don’t think I don’t!
Motherhood…
After a few years, I convinced Nigel it was time to start a family. When we were dating, he’d always said, “One or twenty…that’s how many kids we’re having.” Well, not having gone through labor yet, I knew twenty wasn’t happening, but I also knew one probably wasn’t the right number, either. We lost our first baby to a miscarriage. Again, those were different times, and you just went on with your life. There wasn’t any need to grieve. I still do. Each Christmas, I wonder about that child. But, I’m a firm believer in you are who you are because of a specific set of, shall we say, partners! And, if I’d had that baby, I know I wouldn’t have had the three most perfect children in the world. Our first son was born after more than 30 hours of hard labor with nothing but Demerol. Our daughter came about two years later. Our youngest son, our surprise, was born sixteen months later. I had achieved that dream at 22 years old and completed it by the age of 26. So, I had three kids under the age of four for a bit.
Retirement…
Retirement wasn’t necessarily a dream of mine. I did choose to retire early because of many circumstances. If I’d known a couple of people would be gone within two years, I probably would have kept teaching. I loved teaching with every ounce of my being, and I still miss it to this day. I truly believe it is the absolute best job in the world. But, retirement isn’t a bad gig, either. We lost one of our Westies before I retired and discovered our other Westie, Max, had diabetes shortly after I retired. Taking care of him became a part of my new routine. He and I both adapted to it quite easily.
Travel…
I almost forgot one of the biggest dreams ever. Nigel and I have taken some extraordinary dream trips. There was the train trip from Indianapolis to Chicago to Seattle to Los Angeles to New Orleans to Chicago and home to Indianapolis. There have been several trips to London and the surrounding area. We have gone to the Grand Canyon (again on the train). We flew business class a couple of times even! And, while the traveling dream is currently on hold, I know it won’t be long before we’ll be off on another dream trip somewhere!
Homes…
Another big part of retirement was deciding to move down to be closer to our kids. In hindsight (which is truly 20/20), it was a bit of a mistake. I miss that house so much. I miss my big yard and trees even more. I also miss knowing where I was. Even though we’ve been here for over eleven years, I still have to use GPS to navigate to most places. Indianapolis is a confusing city. I’ve been lucky to have two dream houses. The first was our house up north. The second was the house we just left behind. It was spacious, had a humongous kitchen, and a full basement. I had space for all my crafting and could leave it out for days at a time. Luckily, we decided to build our current house. I say, luckily, because, even though our neighborhood isn’t technically a 55+ neighborhood, the houses are built with that in mind. Hallways are wider as are the doorways. This has been a boon with Nigel’s present condition. I have been so fortunate to live in not just one but two dream houses (and my name isn’t even Barbie).
Wrap it up, Marsha!
This isn’t a hope or a dream. It’s a huge shout out to my kids who have really stepped up to help us cope with Nigel’s current situation. When I need help of any kind, at least one of them is there. If we’d stayed up north, that wouldn’t have been the case. I don’t know that I can ever repay them for that. So, can we talk? Did you have any big hopes or dreams that never came true? What is/was your biggest dream? Where is your favorite place to travel? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
What others are saying…
Debbie says, “Debbie has gone with quotes and songs which feature Dreams as we all need to have dreams and hope for the future, no matter how dire things look at times.”
Suzy “ writes about the contrast between vivid night-time dreams and the big life dreams she once had, and how her idea of success has quietly shifted over time.”
Sally “considers her favorite works of art that relate to dreams and nightmares.”
Rosie “talks about some of the dreams she has while asleep.”
Leslie writes, “will be sharing a bit about her daytime dreams and nighttime nightmares.”
And, now, it’s your turn!
If you’d like to link up your posts about snow, you may link up here or at any of the other blogs!
I love how your childhood games began you on the teaching path.
Thank you, Rosie! Oh, I was twisting arms to get the neighborhood kids down there to play school when they wanted to be outside running and jumping! Just like a regular teacher, right?
Marsha, this is beautiful! I love that your dreams came true, because you made them happen. And that photo of your granddaughter in your wedding dress is absolutely gorgeous! She, and the dress, are beautiful!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thank you so much, Suzy! I was lucky to have my biggest dreams come true. Some of them took a little work, but good things are worth it, right? Isn’t she stunning? And, that hair is naturally that way! I’m hopeful she and my younger granddaughter will want to use or wear it.
Wait… there are people that don’t dream in color?! Mine are very vivid and I usually can remember them for at least an hour after waking but not much beyond that. The weird part is they feel so real and logical when I’m in them but often make little to no sense once I wake up. I enjoyed reading about your hopes and dreams. My sister and I had an old desk in our basement and used to play school all the time too; though we always argued over who got to be the teacher and who had to be the student.
Thanks, Joanne! I’ve heard it’s unusual to dream in color…wait…let me google it…well, the answer appears to be that more and more people are dreaming in color because of social media! Who knew…obviously not me! Oh, I can remember some for about an hour, but usually it’s just a few minutes unless I start recounting them immediately. Oh, believe me, I was always the teacher! My older sister was too old to come play with us though she ended up a teacher, too!
I really can’t say that I ever had real dreams for the future. I just wanted to be happy. My life has been quite full of coincidences, in regards to my job for example. A friend of mine told me to apply as a trainee there because she had and didn’t want to go to the test alone. And it was “something with books” which really had been my only vague idea. I got accepted, she didn’t.
It’s great that you managed to fulfill some of your dreams!
Thanks, Cat! I think happiness is the ultimate dream. That’s really something you got the job and she didn’t. Was she OK with that? I probably have more dreams unfulfilled than filled, but the major ones are good!
Oh, she was fine with that. I don’t think she really wanted to train for being a librarian, she just applied into all directions.
You are always so interesting Marsha! And it is fact that although we get along so well, our life events are somewhat different. Especially, that I met my dream man, when I was 27, married at 28, and gave birth to my daughter at the age of 30, then my son at the age of 32! Also I was a slow developer with both my career and my education. I graduated from university at the age of 40! Then did a Masters at 45! And then only then did I really begin the career which I stayed with for the rest of my life which was as an academic and researcher, specialising in focus groups.
I’ve always had dreams about the future – good ones – and I still do at the ripe old age of nearly 80!
That’s an interesting subject – well chosen.
Thanks so much, Penny! I think I was just ready to get on with life when I was 18. I’d already been living as an adult since my dad died. There were lots of factor that went into not going to college/university right out of high school. I do believe, however, it made me a better teacher by being a mother first. I will continue to dream…mainly about going to Paris…but there are other things to dream! I’m so glad you still do, too! One dream is to one day meet you face to face!
Hi Marsha, this was a great way of addressing your prompt of Dreams, you’ve told such beautiful stories with your words. The wedding dress on your granddaughter is exquisite too. What lovely children you have to help you out with Nigel, I know you must be so thankful to have them nearby.
A lovely post!!
Thank you so much, Debbie! I considered telling an old dream, but then I thought I’d share some of my own hopes and dreams. Isn’t she a beautiful young woman? I’m so proud of all my grands. And, I do have absolutely lovely kids. They have been the best and come running should I need them. I don’t know what I would do without them.
I guess since my son and his fiance are in the midst of wedding planning that really struck a chord with me! Your gown is beautiful – and your granddaughter is too! Wouldn’t it be lovely if she wanted to wear it one day?
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you so much, Kellyann! I am hopeful she’ll want to use part of it as well as my other granddaughter. I really, really loved my dress. I’ll give you a little hint about MOG dresses…check out the bridesmaid section. They aren’t as mumsy nor are they as expensive.
I got a good laugh at you asking your Sunday School teacher how much she was paid! My dad was a Sunday School teacher when I was a kid, and yes, it’s a labor of love. You have such a pretty wedding dress, and your granddaughter looks gorgeous in it!
Thanks, Sally! Funnily enough, I was a Sunday School teacher for many years, too! I loved my dress from the minute I saw it. I can’t remember what color ribbons the one I tried on had, but they weren’t the light blue I chose. I am hoping my granddaughters will both want to either wear it or use something from it.
How wonderful you kept your wedding dress. I never dreamed about a wedding like that.Because I always figured that the marriage was the important part, not the wedding.
Xoxo
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I never dreamed about a big, big wedding. I just wanted the perfect dress, and I think I found it. I just love it even though it’s discolored a bit. It was ivory to begin with, but the lace on the bodice seems to have changed quite a bit. Yes, the marriage is the most important part, and that’s why we had a really small wedding.
Oh you are definitely a dreamer. Love how you dreamt of your wedding. Nice to know what dreams you had and what you think it’s a dream.
Thanks, Nancy! I am glad you enjoyed my dreams. I should still write a post about my weird dreams, though! You’d think I was quite bonkers!
An interesting blog Marsha. Enjoyed hearing about all your dreams and how life has worked out for you.
I’ve been very fortunate in my life. Married early, had 3 children under 5 by the time I was 27.
Lived in lots of houses – my poor husband, I love change! We were lucky to be able to take a year out of work and live in Turkey where we have made some life long Turkish friends.
Trained as a pastry chef and then in my mid forties had a complete career change and trained to become a prison officer in a women’s prison- a job I still see as a privilege but ended my career in social work supporting teenagers – loved that job. Teenagers are such fun.
I’m 72 now and still dreaming of the next adventure however big or small.
Thanks Marsha
Oh, my goodness, Linda! You have lived a very full life. How exciting to live in Turkey and remain friends with those Turkish friends. Perhaps, you can tell me the secret to a good pie crust! I do believe you and I would have so much to talk about. I think teenagers are the best even though so many think they’re not. We’re never to old to dream of new adventures!
I love hearing about your hopes and dreams. You were born to be a teacher! I learn from you all the time. Flowers was a big thing at both of my weddings and it made me so happy. Maybe you should have an anniversary party and get the roses you wanted all along! Travel is a big dream for me that is on hold because my hubby doesn’t have time at the moment because of work and family weddings. I might have to take another solo trip! 🙂
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you, Kathrine! That is so kind of you to say. I would love to have an anniversary party. I just might plan one and carry the roses I wanted to carry. What kind of flowers did you carry? Well, if you take another solo trip, keep me in mind!
Such a heartfelt post! I loved reading about how your dreams evolved through each stage of life—from teaching to motherhood to travel. It’s so beautiful how many of those dreams came true, even if they didn’t always look exactly as you imagined.
Thank you so much, Laura! I have been so lucky and blessed in this life. I sometimes wonder how I deserved to be so happy and lucky. Then, I remember some of the tougher times. It’s always good to have balance.
Hi, Marsha – It’s always nice to hear about a person’s life. It must have been a joy to remember all the dreams come true in your lifetime! Thanks for sharing – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thank you, Angie! I have really been lucky in all the dreams that did come true even though there have been a few nightmares along the way.