The Dream

With a title like this I suppose one would expect a post about life, dreams and the details of success or failure. I'm still dreaming about a lot of things I haven't even attempted yet, so this is not such a story.

There are many things about the Shore I still remember fondly. Perhaps the greatest was my grandfather's farm and the art of being the only grand "daughter" of six grandchildren. But there will always be a place in my heart for The Dream.

The Dream is a roller rink - a real roller rink with hard wood floors. I'm sorry, but concrete does not a roller rink make. But this rink was even more special because of mom. While Mr. Jimmy and Ms. Mary Lou were king and queen in this fairy tale place we would go to escape life one oval at a time, mom was bell of the ball.

I would often wish I could have been at The Dream without my mom, but Ms. Iris was a staple. Mom helped behind the counter selling pizza and drinks and she taught many a wobbly kid how to skate. Yet the sight we all loved to watch was the waltz. Yes, I said the waltz. During couples skate while hormone crazed teenagers were finding the courage to ask someone to skate - mom and Mr. Jimmy would take the floor and waltz. They looked like they were floating. I don't know how they managed to make it look so easy. Watching mom do a complete 360 made me jealous - I mean how could she show me up like that every week? Actually I suppose I was happy for her - I've never seen someone so elated to be on skates.

The Dream is where it seems I spent most of my awkward puberty - going round and round trying to look cool and catch a boy's eye. One bench was located in a corner under very dim light and this became the "make out" bench where everyone hoped they would end up with their fantasy of the week. I didn't get many invites. I guess having your mom around does put a damper on an otherwise thrilling teenage love life.

Unfornutately it's been years since my mom was on skates and rink sits empty now, but the memories are there even if The Dream is gone.