sweet dreams

The strange thing about this story is that I am not a country music fan. I mean, don’t get me wrong, who doesn’t sing along with Brooks and Dunn when “My Maria” comes on the radio? Neither can I resist any Johnny Cash song or when Jennifer Nettles sings “Stay”. 

Those, and a few other exceptions aside, I  much prefer Mozart over McBride or Mendelssohn over Milsap.

Imagine my surprise when the idea for this story began rattling around in my brain, accompanied by a soundtrack that to me, sounded like one of those currently popular male country singers with the deep baritone voice. 

As the mental pictures of this story began to form, I could hear the melody playing. That melody didn’t last but a few minutes, because the story took over, but it was a mournful thing yet full of strength and hope. Haunting.

I wish I had a better understanding of my mental process, about how stories happen to me. This one was different from most. This thing came at me all at once. No messing around nibbling at my brain for days or weeks. This one landed nearly completely “cooked” and ready to write down.

That change in arrival makes me suspect. Had I seen or heard elements of this idea somewhere? Does this song exist already and I am simply recalling it? I am counting on you reader, to let me know if I have latched onto something that already exists.

After I wrote down all that this story had to show me, I realized almost immediately that this would make a pretty good country music video (or so it seems to me, a non-country fan).

Lyrics and melody are someone else’s purview, I am only responsible for the story:

The cast:

Dad – a big strong farm boy type, farmer’s tan, jet black hair, quiet, hard-working.

Mom –  petite, lean, strong, strawberry blonde, fair skin, big blue eyes.

Son – about six years old, looks just like mom including the big blue eyes.

Scene 1.

The camera’s elevated view is of a large front yard. Slowly it zooms in, crossing the gravel driveway, past an old beat-up pickup truck, past three chickens chasing a dog around the yard. There are beautiful green corn fields as far as the eye can see. There is an old but well-kept farmhouse. On the front porch, dad is slowly rocking the boy on the porch swing. It’s dusk, the sun is setting, and dad is tired but happy. As he looks at his son who is almost asleep, dad smiles.

Scene 2.

Slowly, dad stands with the boy all wrapped around dad’s chest, sleepy-faced and buried in dad’s neck. Gently, dad opens the screen door, (which makes that perfect screen door sound), and starts up the steps to put the boy to bed. The camera follows behind dad.

As dad climbs the staircase the camera starts picking up pictures on both sides of the wall. (The photos tell the story)

A high school football player and cheerleader posing with a trophy.

Prom pics, her dress, his velour tux jacket too tight in the arms, her big hairdo, his almost untamable crop of jet black hair. 

Wedding pictures with mom in her dress uniform.

Ultrasound baby picture.

Her, very pregnant pic with dad beaming.

Mom by her army helicopter in her flight suit holding a crayon drawing of her helicopter. 

A newspaper headline, “ Local pilot killed in action on a rescue mission.”  (Mom’s picture).

A military funeral, son in dad’s arms, one shoe on, one shoe off, different colored socks.

Dad receiving her hero medal while holding his son. 

 Scene 3.

Dad puts his son in the bed. There is a gentle breeze making the window curtains dance. The crayon helicopter drawing is in a frame on the table by the bed. The boy is out like a light. Dad kneels beside the bed. The boy rolls over away from dad who covers him up. The boy’s little hand reaches out and wraps around an almost invisible finger. The boy quietly says “mommy” sweetly. 

As the camera pulls back to the room doorway, we see mom in her flight suit, standing by the bed holding her son’s hand.

As it all fades away we hear dad whisper, “Sweet dreams son, you got a lot of living to do tomorrow.”

Dear reader, if you have read, seen, or listened to this song before, PLEASE let me know. As I said earlier, this thing came to my brain from a different route than most other things I write. If this is already out there I need to know it.

Also, if you know how to make a country music video or know someone who does, let’s get together and talk about this thing.