Into the Clouds

Some may say that dreams are fanciful and belong to children. I believe that is where they start but never end. They can come from a story read at bedtime, an example set by an adult, or hero seen on TV. They can come from an idea, or an influence in one's life-a challenge perhaps. The "Baby Boomers" grew up with stories of families escaping persecution during World War II, of pilots flying over the Hump, or of veterans coming back from Vietnam. They come from hardships mostly. The Great Depression was a catalyst into the Industrial Revolution. The stories were sad, even devasting, but so many created goals for those living in that era. Dreams can become goals. This is something I recognized early in life, a privileged life at that. I was left alone much of my youth to swim in my own thoughts and dreams. My developing curiosity said, "Why not?" While glider flying in Switzerland and again in South Miami, I knew I wanted to be earth bound. Living in South Florida and the Keys took me to the ocean depths where I was to learn to dive until my lungs or my tank ran out of air. I saw mountains there and coral cliffs of rainbow colors-black beneath. With beauty and heroism, there is a downside. People die trying to fulfill their dreams or to compete with their hero-Sir Edmund Hilary, for example. Every year, tourists die here in the Keys while doing what fill their dreams. Into the Clouds has two parts: Ali Ali Ukaalo ("How Much More Up?") and Ali Ali Oraalo ("How Much More Down?"). These parts are, as a whole, a metaphor. The journey originated for some as a spiritual experience. For others, it was a challenge and opportunity for personal growth. All in all, if you dream and you read this, you will want to do more of both.