DREAMS: LOST, FOUND, MISPLACED

At age 5 I dreamed of becoming an artist.

At age 6 I dreamed of becoming an actor.

At age 7 I dreamed of working for the Red Cross.

At age 8 I dreamed again of becoming an actor.

At age 9 I dreamed of becoming a writer.

At age 10 I dreamed of becoming a professional singer.

At age 11 I dreamed of becoming a tennis player.

At age 12 I dreamed of becoming a concert pianist.

At age 13 I dreamed again of becoming a professional singer.

At age 14 I dreamed of becoming a medical missionary.

At age 15 I dreamed yet again of becoming a professional singer.

At age 17 I dreamed of joining the WAVES.

At age 18 I dreamed of getting married.

At age 19 I dreamed of buying a house.

At age 20 I dreamed of having children.

At age 21 I dreamed once again of becoming a professional singer.

At age 22 I dreamed of a career in banking.

At age 23 I dreamed of becoming a professional performer.

At age 24 I dreamed of adopting a child.

At age 25 I dreamed being a stay at home Mom.

At age 26 I dreamed again of adopting a child.

At age 27 I dreamed of continuing my education.

At age 28 I dreamed yet again of adopting a child.

At age 29 I dreamed of buying a new home.

At ages 30, 40, 50, & 60 I dreamed of staying in one place forever.

My kindergarten teacher squelched my dream of becoming an artist.

I achieved my dream of becoming an actor.

Through the years I have supported the work of the Red Cross.

Although it has taken a long time, I am a writer.

My dream of becoming a professional singer was lost, along with my voice.

To be a tennis player, one must be well coordinated. I am not.

I didn’t tell anyone I wanted to become a concert pianist.

Although inspired by Dr. Tom Dooley, I did not become a medical missionary.

I allowed others to dissuade me from joining the WAVES.

I got married.

I bought a house.

I bore a son.

My career in banking was lost to one of many moves to a new place.

I performed, sang, danced, and acted, a few times for pay.

I had the luxury of being a stay at home Mom at least for a time.

I adopted a daughter.

I bought a new home.

After 26 long years, I graduated with honors from the university.

Life did not hold for me any promise of living in the same town the rest of my life.

K K McClelland

09.26.2009