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The Double Meaning behind the blog title 'Dream Follower:'
First, for 14 years I was a ballroom & social dance instructor, and have studied both leading and following. I feel that learning to follow is full of nuance and is often misunderstood. I made it one of my personal goals to become a really excellent follow on the dance floor, and will probably talk a lot about the art of following - both in and out of the context of dance.

Second, I am a huge fan of author Michael Ende, probably best known for The Neverending Story. The book is incredible, and the first film captured some of the essence. (Please don't watch the other two films...I urge you to read the book though!) Anyway, at least twice in my life I have been caught in a storm of my own indecision, and my inner Moon Princess yelled to my inner Bastian...'Why don't you do what you dream?' I tear up even now as I write this little blurb. The tension between being practical, keeping my feet on the ground and my head out of the clouds (at the risk of compromising my inner vibrancy, true self, and who knows what else)...and reaching for my true dreams (at the risk of losing everything) is still a very real struggle. In fact, one of those struggles lead to my 14 years of teaching dance, so we can see which voice won the battle that fateful day when I was staring at the want-ad...

And so I strive to be two kinds of Dream Followers in my life. One has to do with connecting with others, and the other has to do with connecting with my inner Moon Princess and the world of possibility that opens when I do...

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Second Sight (Samantha on her way to work)

Friday:

6:05 AM
Hit snooze.
6:15 AM
Roll over and hit snooze one more time.
6:25 AM
Eyes blinking awake, Samantha grimaces, cringing inwardly at the day ahead, and cheering the fact that it's Friday anyway.  Then it all comes tumbling back in vivid recall and she sits bolt upright, as one prominent image is unshakable: a wolf.
6:27 AM
She starts the shower water, waits for it to heat up and chews the inside of her cheek.  Noon tomorrow.  What was she thinking, agreeing to meet up with a total stranger?
6:42 AM
She has dressed, run a brush through her hair and is impatiently waiting by the coffee pot.  Should she cancel?  How would she?  She didn't get his phone number or anything.  She would never just not show up...damn integrity...but of course if she stood him up it would make running into him so much worse...fine, she resolved.  We'll meet at noon, have the quickest cup of coffee known to man and then dash.
7:03 AM
Bagel in hand, she set her coffee to go cup in the cup holder of her car, and got ready for her hour long commute.  She wondered how she could arrange for this meeting tomorrow to be short, and wracked her imagination for plausible Saturday obligations or engagements to tell Lucas.  She started her car and then sighed, remembering belatedly that she needed to put gas in the car.  She was going to be at least 10 minutes late.  She debated calling to let someone know, but then decided to wait and see how long the line was at the pump.
7:14 AM
Three cars deep, she gave a quick call to the office, expecting to leave a message. To her surprise, Gina picked up.  "Hi Gina, I didn't expect you to pick up! It's Sam, I'm running about ten or fifteen minutes behind."  Gina chuckled and said "No problem, I'll let them know to start the meeting topics you don't need to run first."  "Thanks, hon.  Now let's hope traffic isn't worse than usual..."
7:43 AM
Gridlock, but so far no more than usual.  She was still distracted.  Should she pretend she has a date? Tickets to a matinee, hmm...she wondered what was playing at the local community theater.  Should she actually get tickets? She chewed on her bagel.  A tiny voice in her mind started asking her an uncomfortable series of questions.
What if you're enjoying the talk, and maybe he can shed light on these visions you've been having since puberty?
What are you afraid of?
Well, admit it, you think he's ruggedly handsome...when was the last time you went on a date anyway?

She shoved the questions away, determined to focus on getting to work in one piece and finishing the week strong at work.  Besides, it wasn't a date -- was it?

8:07 AM
She was grateful once more to have an assigned parking spot, and she raced into the building in a flurry of apologies, diving into her office role full tilt.

2 comments:

  1. Do you know the TV show "Castle?" The main character has a line in the first season where he checks himself out in the reflection of a store window and says, "I really am ruggedly handsome." They incorporated that into the opening credits of the next several seasons. So, now I can't read that line without thinking of the show... Silly, silly.
    Am loving this story. Can't wait to see where you are taking it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, your readership and feedback is much appreciated. I have seen Castle, such a fun show...though I admit I got in later so perhaps missed the ruggedly handsome line. Besides, he's kind of a pretty boy if you ask me, not like a Gerard Butler or the guy who played Gladiator.

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