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When John and I set out on this grand adventure, we didn’t know what life held in store for us. We knew we wanted to move frequently, live like locals, immerse ourselves in a community; do the things, see the sights, eat the foods. But what we didn’t expect was the opportunity to make a few dreams become reality. This is the real life story of how dreams really do come true.
Once upon a time…
All fairy tales start out this way; “Once upon a time…” In case you’re new here, allow me a moment to reminisce. John and I met when we were eighteen years old. He was a freshman in college; I was graduating high school. Ours was a once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind romance. We met in August, got engaged in November, and got married the following August. I graduated high school in June that year, and got married two short months later.
One of our favorite things to do when we were dating was to go to the airport and watch the planes land. Those were the days prior to 9.11, prior to TSA, and prior to the world going insane for fear of the dangers that lurk.
A little gravel road
In Louisville, Standiford Field Airport, before it was Louisville International Airport, had a gravel service road that ran adjacent to one of the incoming runways. We would park on that gravel service road, climb onto the hood of the car, watch the planes land, and dream of our future.
It was on the hood of a baby blue 1985 Toyota SR5, watching the Boeing 737s land, that I first learned of the dream; John’s dream of flying.
Life’s own plans…
As with so many dreams, life has its own plans. John graduated college while I worked. When he was offered his first internship, I started college at the age of 24. Then came the beautiful blessing of children, then the school-age years.
Here we are 35 amazing years later. We’ve witnessed so many dreams come true; children, houses bought, and sold, friends made, businesses built, tragedies survived. But life has a funny way of surprising you, I guess; a way of offering you another opportunity to make dreams become reality.
Like Orville and Wilber
We moved here part time in the summer of 2023. Still owning a business and with a home to maintain, our weeks were shuffled between Louisville and Bowling Green, Kentucky. One week in each location on rotation.
But we quickly fell in love with the maintanance free lifestyle of luxury apartment living – and started making plans to sell our home. That dream came true last April (2025). One of the things we love the most about our community is the proximity of the regional airport that sits directly behind our property. We can sit on our back patio and watch the planes come and go.
That was when John decided to pursue the next dream-come-true. For the last year he has been taking flight lessons to become a private pilot. This month, he achieved that life-long dream and passed his check-ride.
I am so proud to announce that I’m married to a pilot! He is my dream come true, and I am so happy to see his achieve his own dreams, too.
What this life affords…
I would say that achieving dreams and experiencing new aspects of life is something this life adventure affords. It’s more than a vacation or a get-away. Those experiences offer great memory making opportunities, to be sure.
But we are living the dream and it’s an amazing thing when life surprises you – when you realize that dreams really do come true.
xo, Billie
discover more:
- Flywell Aviation: https://www.flywellaviation.com
- Celebrate Life’s Little Moments: https://forwardourmail.com/improve-your-life-when-you-do-this-celebrate-little-moments/
