Dreams

I’ve never been much of a dreamer. 

It was my mother’s dream for me to be an exchange student in high school. It’s not something that was even on my radar, but I ended up going to Sweden my junior year and my life was better for the experience.

The initial “art farm” idea of what is now Purdon Groves wasn’t my dream either. It was my husband Houston’s. But as he shared and other creative minded friends talked about what it would mean to have such a place, I became sold on the idea. It wasn’t long before I figured out where I could fit in.

I’ve always been more of a “doer.” Sometimes, if I’m honest, I think doing is more important than dreaming - like it’s a badge of honor to be a doer. I’m realizing I couldn’t be more wrong. Without dreaming, how would we ever have the ideas to create or invent? Without doing, how would those ideas become a reality?

Last week a photo from 20 years ago popped up in my online memories. It was taken outside of Warwick Castle in Warwick, England, with our four children and some British friends. I sent it to all of our kids and one of them responded with, “Love it! Let’s go back!” and another one said, “Who’s down for this winter? I’ve got a few months off.” I responded by saying, “Gosh! I wish,” and that it was on my bucket list. 

I guess a bucket list consists of dreams, right? Like some of you, I have a running list of things I’d like to accomplish and trips I’d like to take. 

Since going to the UK for my 50th birthday with our daughter Emilie, I’ve wanted to go back and hole up in a cottage in the Lake District for a few weeks. My “dream” would be to be alone for a week or two, during which time I’d go for long walks, maybe even some bike rides and write by the fireplace with a steaming cup of tea nearby. Then I’d want Houston, our kids and their spouses, as well as our grandchildren to join me so we could experience the area together. 

My lifelong dream of publishing a book has seemed almost unattainable due to the mental and creative slump I’ve been in the past several months. But the recent publication of two friends’ books has me feeling more inspired. It no longer seems like an impossible task.

A more recent dream is to own a storefront in downtown Corsicana, providing a place for those who love good food and who want to support local farms and ranches. And that dream is becoming a reality. We found a building to purchase and have leased part of it to a successful restaurateur. His business is thriving, I’m happy to say. We’re also planning to sell products from local farms and ranches, as well as host vendor markets on our adjoining patio. 

It feels good to be dreaming, especially when some of those dreams are materializing!

This piece first appeared in Sherry’s column, Finding Myself in a Small Town, in the May 4, 2024 edition of the Corsicana Daily Sun.