good life

"I always had a passion for flashing. Before I had it I closed my eyes and imagined."

Mattie dreamed big. She would sit on the concrete blocks her family used as steps outside their trailer home. She would close her eyes.

In summertime she dreamed of beaches. Palm trees, ten feet tall. Soft, thick sand that her feet sank into as she walked. An endless ocean in front of her, and the salty sweet smell that accompanied it.

In winter she dreamed of snow-capped wonderlands. She pictured herself at a ski lodge. The fresh smell of snow surrounding her. The startling bursts of wind. The invigorating rush as she skied downhill.

And on particularly bad days, Mattie dreamed about the home she would have. Luxurious carpet and ornate rugs in every room. Cathedral ceilings. A kitchen with two refrigerators. Jacuzzi bathtubs in every bathroom. A library and an office.

A walk-in closet. And, yes, Mattie imagined the clothes. Couture gowns. A wall of shoes. Silk and cashmere. Purses and totes in every size. An outfit for every occasion. Jewelry dripping in diamonds, rubies, emeralds.

Mattie had big dreams. She lived quietly, as her dreams and her determination grew together. She would sit on her concrete steps and imagine the adventures she would have. And then she would walk inside her trailer, sit at the tiny desktop in the kitchen, and make her dreams come true.