Dances and Dreams

Tonight is Homecoming.  I went to an early movie (saw "The Hollars" - it was excellent) and decided to go somewhere for dinner.  I wanted to go to Elephant Bar - they sent me a free-dessert-for-your-birthday email and I found they were closed.  Next door was Macaroni Grill - sounds good to me!  It was a 45 minute wait.  She apologized - told me it was Homecoming.  I ended up at Cheesecake Factory and as I waited for a table, I was able to look around and I had a lot to ponder.  The couples - with the ties that match the dresses perfectly.  The group of girlfriends - giggling, heads held high, wearing high heels.  It made me think of dances I went to - and that fateful prom my senior year.  We spent hours getting ready.  Talking about the cute boys and...I can't remember what else.  I only remember talking about boys.  Even the ones that were just our friends.  LOL

Tonight I saw in their young faces - heard in their voices - all of the anxiety, anticipation, excitement, and joy of the event. I saw them live in the moment, but I also know they have dreams.  BIG ones.  I just wanted to take a few of them and say, "It's better than you ever dreamed.  I mean MUCH better."  It's what I would tell my younger self.  I would tell her to dream even bigger because it would turn out to be better than even those.