Sitting in our favorite Italian sandwich shop, my roommate and I were only 100 yards from our dorm. The juke box was playing, Steppenwolf." I was off in a dream, an idea . . ."What if, we could," I said to Susie. "What when we are teachers we could make it so that kids aren't afraid to learn? What then? Wouldn't it be fun? I mean, I learn so much more, so much more deeply when I'm confident and happy."
We talked all through our hot ham and cheese sandwiches on Italian bread . . . right into Neil Diamonds, "Forever in Blue Jeans." It was college. We were dreaming of the future.
It's hard not to be swept away with possibilities when my life is all about learning. Ideas that bring people up are euphoric. They should be.
I still remember the conversation and the exact smile I was smiling.
My dear roommate so knew me. She listened in earnest. Ah Susie. She and I agreed. Of course, she didn't suffer from delusions. Unlike her, I never let reality get in the way the potential that I might envision.
When I'd take such an excursion, my friend would smile and ride along, until the moment she made a motion of pulling in a kite string, and said, "C'mon, down." Then she'd point to the ground, still smiling. "C'mon, you can do it. You know where your feet belong. We have to walk back to the dorm soon."
Grounded.
I've always been lucky to have friends who kept my feet on the ground . . .
because the view from in the atmosphere is so much nicer.
I still believe that we can get there.
--me strauss Letting me be
12 comments:
written from the heart, Liz. yeah. another lovely post, glad i came to visit.
"Forever in Blue Jeans." . still am. :)
Hello Dsnake,
So lovely to see a friend who is forever in blue jeans. Thank you for your visit. I'm so happy. :)
Don't stop til you get there
I have keep going, Janus, I want to meet you! :)
Ah, the burden of the ideal... *sigh* I wish i were more positive, but i get disillusioned easily...
Hi Bungi!
I get disillusioned too, when people knock me down . . .. but the allure of what could be is much more exciting than the sadness of what has been. :)
There's a need for both spheres -- the big, ideal picture & the grounded one. With out a marriage of the 2, we don't often move ahead. You are lucky to have friends that keep you grounded, just like your friends are lucky to have you to lift them up.
Hi Dawn!
You bet! Don't think I don't know how lucky I am to have folks who are looking out for my feet being on the ground. The last think I need is to float away inside on of my ideas. :)
Oh, I get knocked down and disillusioned too easily too, but I just get up again. :o) The air is so clear up here. :o)
I agree, Easy!
The clear air and the quiet are revitalizing and inspiring. It's like moonlight on a beautiful night to have a soft, wonderful idea. :)
Keeping oneself grounded is not possible without some one to help keep you from floating away. A good spouse both grounds and applauds the dreams.
Hey Dr. John!
I'm so with you on that!
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