The ABCs of a dream

It started with a can of fruit cocktail. And an orange folding bike. The steep road leading away from my childhood home. And the thrill of taking off on my own. It was always about the journey. Never about the goal.

I was about 7 when I decided to run away from home. Got my red-checkered cloth rucksack with the fake leather trim, packed a can of fruit cocktail and a spoon. Carefully wheeled the orange folding bike out of the garage – don’t scratch the car! – and started to pedal. Began climbing the hill ahead of me, eyes on road, mind on the snack. How far did I want to go? How long until I could stop for a break? The top of the hill seemed like a good goal.

The ride on the bike with its awkward frame and small wheels was cumbersome. The fact that I had to pedal backward to shift into the lower gear – took away from what little momentum I had going forward. Slowly, I inched my way up the ascending road. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally reached the top. A bench on the side of the road, framed by two towering trees, the perfect place to stop and have a picnic. Canned fruit cocktail. Diced peachy peaches and pale pears, chunks of pineapple and red cherry halves floating in sugary syrup. A few squishy grapes.

I never made it any further that day. Turned around, got on my orange folding bike and descended down the road. Returned the bike to its original spot in the garage – don’t scratch the car! – and went back inside. It was always about the journey. Never about the goal.

If life is a fruit cocktail, I am looking for the maraschino cherries, few and apart. The sweet spots that make the diced peaches and pears and chunks of pineapple of life turn slightly red with dye. Not the pale squishy grapes. Definitely not those.

The ABCs of the dream

As a teacher, you are always looking for the ABCs. Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence. Before-During-After.

The dream of spending a year in Australia, was preceded by always looking for the journey. For riding up and down winding roads on an orange folding bike. Fruit snack packed.

I have lived in the US of America, France, Canada. Have taught in Montreal, Oxford, Paris, Hongkong, Toronto. The cherries and the peaches and the grapes of my life.

Teaching Grade 1 at a bilingual school in Sydney, Australia, for a year is like the cherry on top of a three scooped ice cream sundae. Whipped cream and all.

Life is a journey. Not a destination.