Recently, I was asked the question “What do you want out of life?” The answer did not spring readily from my mouth, because it seems like such an easy one, but it has many levels, some as deep as the Pacific Ocean. I was forced to sit down and seriously think about it.
I thought about passport stamps, road trips, the joy of family, being successful as a writer and creator, big houses, vacations with friends, watching my kids achieve greatness, and dozens of other beautiful things. And then, I remembered my childhood and the porch swing at my grandfather’s house.
When I was a child, there was a magical quality about my grandfather’s front porch. There would be days when I chased fireflies, rode my bike or big wheel down the block, or played Whiffle ball in the street or threw the football around on the front lawn, all under the watchful eyes of my family as they discussed life, while my grandparents swayed slowly in the porch swing.
I was able to sit there, next to one of my grandparents, while the world seemed to be brought to that porch. I watched from that vantage point as my uncle and aunties went to prom, or left for the military, or announced engagements. Family trips were discussed and jokes were told, and there were a lot of tears and hugs, as well as unforgettable moments which quietly added pieces to my soul.
I was on a beach a couple of years ago in the Dominican Republic, and there was a hammock suspended slightly above the water. I climbed into it, and my weight caused it to sink a little bit into the Caribbean. I lay there peacefully and blissfully, as the water massaged my back and thoughts, while I swayed back and forth, reminding me of my grandfather’s porch swing.
The answer to the original question is easy, of course. What do I want out of life? A porch swing. Absolutely. It’s a pre-requisite for the next house, which will be my forever home. I can watch my grandchildren play, have my family and friends gather, wave at cars easing by, enjoy a cold beverage, write or read, plan the next adventure, chat on the phone, and let the world come to me.
To me, owning a porch swing would declare that I’d made it. That life was going the way that I’d daydreamed about, and the goals and lists had come to fruition, replaced by the satisfaction of taking it easy. I might even be able to watch the rise and fall of the sun, or greet the seasons as they changed, or wonder in awe at the beauty of the world.
My grandfather was a WWII veteran, who raised his children and grandchildren, barbecued like a champ, made homemade ice cream and amazing caramel cakes, and sat swaying on that porch swing most summer evenings with a smile on his face.
So yeah, that’s what I want out of life, a porch swing. For me, that’s the end-all, be-all. Simple, yet beautiful. I already have a hammock, but it’s only built for one. The day that I take a picture of myself smiling as I sway back and forth, will be the moment when everything I ever dreamt of will have come to fruition.
Keep your fingers crossed.
