I Have A Dream…..

On August 28^th 1963, Martin Luther King stood up and said four words that changed the world – “I have a dream.”

I too have a dream. In fact I have lots of dreams….

I have a dream that I am the mother of a strapping two and a half year old little boy. He is testing the boundaries as two year olds do, but I love him more than life itself and he is my whole world.

I have a dream that my father-in-law is still alive and well, and that he didn’t die horrifically when he was misdiagnosed with cancer, and that he is bouncing his Grandson Francesco “Frankie” Enrico Venture on his knee.

I have a dream that my cousin Barbara* is still alive and well, and that she wasn’t cruelly taken away from me from complications arising from type 2 diabetes.

I have a dream that my cousin Tim* is also still alive and well, and that he didn’t drop down dead of a heart attack aged only 57, leaving behind his wife, son and parents, my Aunty and Uncle, who are still going strong in their late 80’s.

I have a dream that my beloved Aunty Mary* has not succumbed to dementia, one of the cruellest diseases I have ever witnessed, and that she didn’t slip away bit by bit before my eyes until she finally closed her eyes for good. I have a dream that she is alive and well, that she is still going to the cinema, theatre, enjoying Shakespeare, poetry and watching her beloved team Juventus play football matches in Italy.

I have a dream that I didn’t have 11 early miscarriages, and that I am a mother, instead of an empty armed mother.

I have a dream that I wasn’t betrayed by people who I thought were my friends and that they didn’t take away things that were rightfully mine and that I started.

I have a dream that my beloved German Shepherd Curley is still alive, that she is running around like a playful pup, and that she didn’t succumb to cancer at the age of 13.

I have lots of dreams. But these are dreams that I can do nothing about.

My son Francesco “Frankie” Enrico Ventura was stillborn.

My father-in-law did die in some very horrific circumstances shortly after I lost my son.

My cousin Barbara did pass away.

My cousin Tony did pass away.

My beloved Aunty Mary did pass away.

I did have 11 early miscarriages since I was 28 as well as my son, I am now 42.

I was betrayed by people who I thought were my friends and they did take away things that were rightfully mine that I started.

My beloved German Shepherd Curley did succumb to cancer at the age of 13.

I have lots of dreams. But these are the ones that I can do something about.

I have a dream that I am a published author, that my book is on the shelves of Waterstones, and that it is read and enjoyed by many.

I have a dream that I am a successful business woman, that my idea for the UK Cyber Security Association has taken off, and that the membership for the association is growing and growing.

I have a dream that I am a successful TV Scriptwriter, and my drama ideas and words are played out to the masses on the BBC or ITV.

I have a dream that I will meet some lovely, positive and wonderful people who aren’t out to get what they can from me, and who won’t betray me and will support me.

I have a dream that the world will turn into a better place, that everyone will stop fighting each other, and that there will be peace in my lifetime.

I am a survivor. I am not a victim.

And I have a dream…..