A Dream Come True

When I was young my parents were my greatest supporters. They were always there to build me up, nurture me, and to tell me to go after my dreams. I imagine most parents follow this parenting technique…but someone how I always felt like I was lucky because “my parents” really meant it. Oh, I’m not saying that your parent was full of hot air and empty words… I’m just saying my parents really didn’t care if I was poor, as long as I was happy and living my dream. Five successful children later, I think they had the right parenting skills, if you know what I mean?

 

So the other day as I was driving along a country road near my home, I came across my favorite bend in the road. Now this bend is a rather scary one if you are unfamiliar with the road or driving a huge vehicle that is easily thrown into the oncoming one lane traffic. But as I was saying… I came across my favorite bend in the road, where the vision of a dream come true smacked me in the face. On a particularly sunny day, the site is even more breath-taking. There on the side of the road is someone’s dream… there is no other way to describe it. Nestled in the tree-line, in front of what used to be a corn pasture, now stands a new home and ranch with two well-fed horses. Oh, I know what you’re thinking… there’s lots of new homes with horses etc… But this one is different. You see, this property has sat undeveloped since Captain Smith arrived in Jamestown. Only farming tools have cultivated a nearby pasture, where in the early mornings and late evenings deer have huddled together nibbling on the remnants of a once thriving crop. But something happened before this particular day that must be shared. One morning while driving my “favorite country road,”out of the mist I noticed a large machine cutting down trees and I was stunned. All I could think was what would happen to the deer? Were more houses being built? It saddened me really, to think that my favorite bend in the road would not have that tranquil view I had come to love.

But boy was I surprised later! Remember that “dream” I was talking about…? You know, the one we are told to go after when we’re young? Well, someone decided to go after their dream on this particular spot. They built the most beautiful ranch imaginable for this cute little spot on my favorite bend in the road. Every day thereafter, when I would pass by the cleared out spot near the tree-line, I would watch as a family quickly built a picturesque home to live in. Then a winding driveway was forged through the woods to their garage. Ranch-styled fence

posts were pounded into the ground one at a time until the once tall cornfield was encased. As they built it, I would slow down on the bend to catch a glimpse of the work, always marveling at the progress in such a short time. Then they were there, grazing like the deer had before them in the mist, two horses, one lighter and the other dark. They seemed to be part of a picture that only an artist could paint. I would smile each day as I passed them, trying not to run off the road looking at the horses and the family as they built the out-buildings, first an open-aired stall, then the shaded stall…and finally the barn that would keep the horses warm once the winter cold found it’s way to our state.

 

I don’t know what it is about this little ranch nestled in the bend of my favorite country road that makes me smile each time I pass by. Perhaps it is the simple beauty of it all, or maybe the fact that someone went after their dream and made it a reality. But there is one thing I do know… that every time I reach the bend in the road, it reminds me that life it short and I need to embrace the beauty around me. I need to remember my own dreams and find a way to make them come true even if it takes me the rest of my lifetime… For my parents were right, it doesn’t matter if I’m rich or poor, what matters is if I’m doing something that makes me happy. Right now I’m happy, I’m writing… and yes, I’m chasing my dream.