Thou Shall "Catch" Another's Dream

"When you dream alone, with your eyes shut, asleep, that dream is an illusion.  But when we dream together sharing the same dream, awake and with our eyes wide open, then that dream becomes reality."
~~ Author Unknown

My dad was the son of a Methodist preacher, so moving around every few years during his childhood kind of equipped him in the art of making new friends wherever he went. Dad was a natural athlete, had a great personality and it didn't hurt that he was a pretty good-looking kid too.  Making friends was probably the easiest thing in the world for him and this attribute stayed with him for the rest of his life. 

Dad was in Junior High when he and his family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana.  And it was in that one summer vacation that Dad met the very best friend of his life.  Little did either one know at the time, but this young friendship would grow and evolve into something pretty special.

Dad used to tell the story of how he first noticed this blonde-haired kid.  Dad said he would walk past this kid's house that first summer and he would always see this blonde-haired kid constantly throwing the football at yard furniture (later he found out these were his "goals"). 

"EVERY single day, this kid would not only throw the football, but he would also pretend that he was a sports announcer announcing his own championship football game!"

*Even back then Dad admired anyone who had big dreams for themselves.

It wasn't long before Dad took the place of his new buddy's lawn fixtures. Ha!  In fact, the two became inseparable, like brothers really, and they threw the ball every single day of their young lives.

It became their passion and they got very good at it!  These two became the "dynamic duo" in their Junior High School, High School and then again in college where they went together and broke many football records at Louisiana Tech University.

Both ended up being recruited to play in the NFL.  Dad started off with the Vikings and Terry went on to join the Steelers. After a year or two, Dad was also asked to join the Pittsburgh Steelers and he did.  Unfortunately, his knee blew out and that was the end of that dream.

We moved back to Louisiana. 

Dad went into business for himself and of course, Terry...yes, that Terry...... went on to win four Super Bowls all while breaking all kinds of phenomenal football records.  And now? Terry Bradshaw does what he practiced and dreamed of doing all those many decades ago in his back yard.  He is a commentator for the NFL.

It was only in his final days that Dad shared a very big secret with us.  It was such a profound secret that it has since changed my entire view on DREAMS. 

One day, shortly before the end of Dad's life, Kimberly asked Dad a question that none of us had ever thought of asking him before.  It was profound, really.  She asked him if the NFL was his biggest dream....

He replied with a tired smile and said in a slower, raspier, methodical way, "No."

"No?" Kimberly inquired?

"No" he said again and continued with that thought, "That was Terry's dream.... I just happened to "catch" his dream in the meantime."

Kimberly didn't quite understand what he was saying at first, so he explained as best he could even though he was losing strength to talk at that point. 

He explained that sometimes, many times in fact, you "catch" another person's dream.  Something might strike you in such a way that you feel an urge to become a part of it...You may even feel like you could do the same venture, but even better.  So sometimes, just sometimes our most important and worthwhile dreams might just be the very ones you "catch" from another soul.

Because of Dad, I think I have a real sense of what it means to dream, to visualize that dream, plan for it, prepare for it and then to see it to fruition. 
And you know what else I've discovered?  I've discovered that it really is way more fun to bring others along for the ride when going for a dream. ;-)

So share your dreams....and catch another.... My gosh! Just think of the fun you can have!

Have a great weekend!!
Dream on!
Teri

*Oh! By the way, in case you are wondering.. yes, Terry is absolutely my namesake.  He was at the hospital when they named me.  Pretty sweet. ;-)