if this is a new practice, if it is a practice at all.

My boss’ father passed the weekend before last, so our department attended the funeral, basically as outsiders to their friends and family. It was a small chapel, yet one older man kind of stuck out from the rest.

It is an awkward time to figure out why someone you don’t know is attending your father/husband/uncle’s funeral, but they made an attempt to find out who he was and why he was paying respects.

That all ended when he became disrespectful and beligerant. He avoided questions and would not give his name. He seemed confused that he was in the vehicle processional to the grave site, but followed anyway.

Could it be that he was just looking for free cookies and punch? Too bad we didn’t have any. Too bad he acted that way toward a grieving family.

Have you heard of this happening before?

We have all heard the song by Dusty Springfield:

Wishin’, and hopin’, and thinkin’, and prayin’,
Plannin’ and dreamin’ each night of his charms,
That won’t get you into his arms.

So if your’re looking for love, you can share,
All you gotta to is hold him, and kiss him, and love him,
And show him that you care.

Show him that you care, just for him.
Do the things that he likes to do.
Wear your hair just for him,
‘Cause you won’t get him
Thinkin’ and a prayin’,
Wishin’ and a hopin’,

‘Cause wishin’, and hopin’, and thinkin’, and prayin’,
Planning and dreamin’
His kisses will start.
That won’t get you into his heart.

To me, the difference between “wish” and “dream” is another wordsmithing thing in my head that distingushes them.

I see them as without and with faith, in that order. Faith, described as “hopeful expectation.” Those two words are a few volumes by themselves. How can you be hopeful AND expecting at the same time?

I’m not sure how *you* do it, but for me, it’s as easy as expecting that I will make it to work okay, or enjoy a nice meal with my wife when I get home. I have no present proof that either will happen in the future, so I hope for them, but I have nothing to suggest that I shouldn’t expect them.

Dreaming is faith-full to me. I dream of things that are not yet, but there is no reason to expect that I can’t get/achieve/arrive at something. I don’t dream too big, but I also try to not dream to the extent of turning it into a wish.

Don’t we all wish we could have no worries, pain, trouble? Then again, how realistic is that? Do you expect them? No. That is why it is wishful to me, not dreaming.