Maria and  just got back from a two-trek to Brooklyn, a Christmas gift from my daughter, who rented a gorgeous three bedroom suit in an apartment building right next door for us. Emma took us on a walking tour of Fort Greene on Tuesday, cooked a meal for us Tuesday night, Wednesday we took her to see La-La-land at a neighborhood movie theater.

The trip was upended a bit when I got a wicked stomach virus and was brought down Wednesday afternoon and spent the evening in bed. We got up before dawn to catch the first morning train upstate out of New York City, a good-sized snowstorm is hitting our area, we just made it out. Our train was halted several times by snow, but we made it home.

I had fun seeing Robin.  We played a bit and I got to read her some bedtime stories.

Someone asked me what my ambitions for her were, and I said I didn’t really think it was up to me to have ambitions for her, that is for her parents. She is only three months old, but I see a determined woman in those eyes. If I want anything for Robin, it is for her to have the determination and strength to follow her dreams.

I love La-La-Land because I celebrate the idea of people who follow their dreams, something the movie also celebrates. I know it is hard and I respect anyone who makes a different choice.

I often tell people not to get a day job if they wish the life of the artist or writer, because they will never muster the will to follow their bliss if they have security and money.

Some people bristle at that – we have to survive and pay the bill, and they are correct, but I am a prisoner of my own experience. I dreamed of being a writer when I was a kid, not much older than Robin, and I resolved I would be a writer, no matter what. I never let anything stand in my way, and I hope I never do.

It has not been a simple or easy life, none of us get to have all that we want.  We both gave up security and money. But we have kept the lights on and we pay our bills.

Few meaningful lives are simple or easy, I do now wish to live a substitute life. But I did it, and am grateful. Maria did it, and she is grateful. It is a precious thing we both share with one another, a reason we both cried several times during La-La-Land.

I enjoy Brooklyn, it is the world capital of creativity right now, bursting with buildings, restaurants, young, hip and creative people. We love coming home to our farm and animals in our country farmhouse, close to nature. Clearly, this is where we belong.

I don’t know what’s in Robin’s head, but when I look into those eyes, I see some steel and resolve. Some determination. I don’t know what her dreams will be, and I will certainly not be around to see them,  but I hope she follows her dreams and never lets go of them.

Sacred are the dreamers, we all need them so badly.