Dreaming and Praying

I have two takes on dreaming today one is that which happens in your sleep the other is when we dream about life goals and ambitions.

I've twice in the last week had a dream about someone that I haven't seen in 10 years. We recently friended on Facebook, but I've otherwise had no contact. His role in the dreams are random but he's the only identifiable person. So, I wonder, is it appropriate to tell the person? People seem to get weird when you tell them you've had dreams about them - especially two. Then I wonder, why am I dreaming about this person? Is it so many fond memories rekindled by the reminder of his existence? But, what I finally come to when random folk from my life or life's history appear in my dreams - especially repeatedly is that I am to be praying for this person. I may never know why, but this is the conclusion I come to. So, if some day you feel like you've been prayed for and you don't know why just may be you've been a star in my dreams.

The best writer's could not have sculpted a better finish to pairs figure skating. 31 and 36 year olds - Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo (pictured above) - of China after 18 years as partners and 3 as husband and wife finally won Gold at the Olypmics. Silver medalists Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China have also inspired me. Their performance to "Impossible Dream" was so powerful and personally timely. I'm inspired by both pairs. I feel there are so many people in the world today trying to live the impossible dream. May be it is just because I live in the world of art and non profit - which both struggle in "these hard economic times." But, I still believe. I still dream. I still chase the dream. If it took 18 years of living in dorms and rigorous training schedules for Shen and Zhao to win Gold then I can be patient at a mere 29 and a life lived in many places and at many speeds to not have 'won gold' in my own way yet. I know this, but I just don't always remember it. In many ways I have won gold simply for continuing to do what I love and am passionate about. So, to all those entering the career world or parents of innocent little ones - do what your heart tells you to do. Encourage our children to be what THEY want to be. To chase their passions not their pocket books. Happiness is the true Gold medal - I can see it in Shen and Zhao and Pang and Tong. Living the impossible dream is not just possible but probable.

[mel-uh-drah-muh]

mel⋅o⋅dra⋅ma

  [mel-uh-drah-muh, -dram-uh] Show IPA

–noun

1.	a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization.

2.	melodramatic behavior or events.

3.	(in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries) a romantic dramatic composition with music interspersed.

I have begun to wonder if melodrama is the community theatre solution to avoiding bad theatre. I'm sure I've experienced a great deal of melodrama (in theatre-not just life) but it has only recently really been on my radar. My first struggle with it of recent was last fall at a theatre that I've since worked on two (non melodrama) shows for. I believe it was a good production and that I either don't understand or don't care for the style of melodrama. Last night I went to see another production in the melodramatic style and was equally confused. It was a great time-the show was fun-the endless popcorn throwing was a delight.

But, the next morning I just can't help but wonder is melodrama a choice or a necessity? Is melodrama the easy answer for community theatre to be fail safe? Melodrama as 1. in the definition above allows for dismissal of the rules and the loss of characterization - thus just about anyone who can speak confidently on stage can do it. There is no over-acting. There are no rules other then exaggeration. I would like to one day embrace melodrama - but in my recent experiences - I'm just not there yet.

:30 going on 3:00

My commute to church on a Sunday morning (read: no traffic) is 30 minutes. During rush hours (read:6am-9am 3pm-7pm across the metroplex) it can take about 1 hour. Yesterday it took me 3 hours. I talked to mom, little brother, read email, played BeJeweled, pondered life's greatest mysteries and wrote this blog in my head. I should have known to get off the freeway when I entered it at 4pm and the alert sign (you know those ones that flash amber alerts and low visibility) displayed: 635W at Josey Lane Accident All lanes closed. But the effort to move out of the left lane across five lanes of already stopped traffic at Hillcrest (read: 7 miles east of Josey Ln) seemed too much of an effort. 2 hours later I revisted this decision, moved one lane over and couldn't go any further. So I waited it out. With nowhere special to be but home I was surprised to find myself calm and patient. (read: I HATE commuting and traffic ask my fiance-I create a world to avoid it at all costs)

Less then a mile from Josey lane as the current alert sign read 635W at Josey Lane Accident HOV and left 3 lanes closed I had a realization about my state of contentment. For an accident to close 5 lanes of traffic by 4pm something major happened. There are people who won't get home tonight-or may be ever. But I will. I'll miss my yoga class, but still get to eat dinner, watch LOST and old episodes of Dexter with my beloved. The sign went blank at that moment. With in seconds all lanes of traffic began to move. Within seconds I began to see the dust, tire marks, burnt out flares and a major chunk of the concrete divider between East and West missing.

And so I did. I made it home. Happy and thankful.