The Park and dreams have a strange relationship. First having vivid dreams is a symptom. Sometimes, we even act them out. I sometimes find myself reaching to take something from someone in a dream. It can be wild and crazy for sure.
While The Park gives us vivid dreams, it steals our ability to fulfill certain dreams. Everything takes longer. Everything is done a little less powerfully.
I wish I had worked harder to find, quantify and fulfill my dreams. In many respects, I have lived the dream – wonderful wife, great sons, decent career, but is that it? As The Park progresses, “What if . . . ?” becomes the “tattoo” on your forehead. You still have the passion in your heart; you still have the ideas in your brain. However, your body just can’t overcome the disease.
I love the movie Field of Dreams. I always end up with tears streaming down my face when Ray and his dad play catch. Of course, with the Park, it doesn’t take much to have tears streaming down my face. My favorite line in the movie is when Ray asks Terence Mann “What do you want?” as they are going into Fenway Park. Terence Mann goes into this long speech about being left alone and Ray points to the concession stand, “No, what do you want?” I have often asked people struggling with life choices, ‘What do you want?” Now, I am forced to face that question myself as I look at life and choices and reduced capacity and life expectancy (no Wickham male in our family has made it to age 66). With the big 6-0 approaching (along with the 10% discount at Golden Corral), I have started to seriously consider what I want with whatever time is left.