What do you want out of life?

This week here in Kenosha, we are mourning the loss of one of our finest. Officer Craig Birkholz was killed in the line of duty. He was buried today. The reason I'm mentioning this is because today, as I was driving home from dropping Alex off in Milwaukee, I was diverted from my usual route because there was blocked traffic near the entrance to the cemetery. As I took the alternate route, I saw two ladder trucks had crossed their elevated ladders in tribute and Highway 142 was now a parking lot of police and fire service vehicles. It was a dramatic and touching sight.

But the real reason I mention all of this is because whenever I hear that someone is cut down in their prime I start to thinking about my own life. I wonder, am I doing all that I had hoped to be doing? Am I where I thought I would be? What do I want out of life?

Overall, I think I'm easy to please. Sure, I've had big hopes and dreams at times in my life. Haven't we all wanted to be a star at some point? Some kind of expert, the person everyone looks to for the answers? Or someone everyone knows? We all have fleeting moments of fame-envy but, truthfully, and possibly thankfully, they pass! In my life, I have acted professionally and loved it. I would love to get back into that at some point, if even on the local level. Acting is cathartic. I get to be other people for a couple of hours and make other people really believe it! When I do it right, there is not another feeling like it in the world. I've also been a singer and still sing once in a while. I love that too and I need to do more of it. I also write. This blog, short stories, poems, and the like. I have always done that. Sometimes it's the only way I can get my feelings out. And I draw. Sketching is fun, and relaxing.
But that surely can't be all that I want out of life.

When I look at the daily things in my life, I know that in many ways I am blessed. Sure, our little apartment is LITTLE but we're also located right on Lake Michigan and the view just couldn't be better. We also pay so little for our rent. My sister is our land lady and she hasn't raised my rent in years! I have a great family. We're so close. Talk all the time and have dinner together every Friday. I know they love me for me. And I know I have the best husband in the world. I won't elaborate on that because I know he reads this blog and it would embarrass him!

So here's what I want out of life. I want to be able to pursue those things I enjoy for a very long time. I want to live within my means but have enough to get out and do the fun stuff when I want to do it! I want to travel. I want to always let those I love know how much they mean to me. I want a dog. I want to lost more weight. I want to feel happiness on it's deepest level and always be able to share it with my man.

And there's more. I want all of you to have what you want in life too. Because if I were to get what I want and see that you did not, I couldn't, in good conscience, enjoy one minute of it. Happy days, people! With lots of love.