On 12/4/24, my sweetheart and I were sitting on our patio talking and laughing about days gone by. We agreed that we’d made some questionable decisions and had plenty of funny stories to share. As we were preparing to go back inside our home, still snickering a bit, he suggested that I write about my dreams, plans, goals, and funny stories that were part of my very much younger life.
So here goes:
I was probably around 12 when I dreamed of being a background dancer, maybe even dance with the Rockettes. When my parents heard this, they asked if I wanted to be on American Bandstand. Of course, this would not compare to the Rocketts so somewhere along the line, this dream was dropped.
When I was a senior in high school, I was assigned to do a paper on the Training of an FBI Agent. After much research, I decided I wanted to be in the FBI. At the time, females weren’t allowed to be agents. But I felt that someday that would change in the future. So, I thought if I could get in as a secretary, or a receptionist, or any FBI job that would hire females. That way I would have my foot in the door waiting for the day to come when I would be able to apply to be an agent.
I applied, and behold, an agent called one of my teachers, my minister, and a neighbor, asking lots of questions about what kind of person I was. Next, I received a letter that Agent Somebody or Other would be in my hometown of Ashland, Kentucky, the week of ——- and would like to set up a time for an interview. I wasted no time. I immediately called the phone number and made the appointment.
It was at this point that my parents, who had always told me that I could be anything I wanted to be, put on the brakes and said they absolutely would not allow this. No amount of arguing would change their minds. So, my trust in my parents was shattered. Evidently, I could do anything I wanted as long as they approved. Huge disappointment for me.
A point for their side was the fact that the position I was applying for was in Washing DC and I would need to move there alone. They weren’t going to let me go to a strange new place by myself, find a place to live, and work. This was 1967. Fortunately, the attitudes of parents have evolved.
Even though life led me down a different path than I dreamed of, At 75 years old I am happy, content with the decisions made, and right where I am supposed to be.
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Am I The Only One 