They call it the Parade of Homes. It’s where we, not so well off folks get a chance to peek into the homes of rich people. They open their homes (for a nominal fee) and allow us less fortunate souls to enter their world and see what we are all missing. My wife has been going to these for the last few years and this year she decided I was going too.

We went into the first home. It was very nice and very well furnished and immaculately clean. Of course we being the great unwashed had to take our shoes off or wear little booties as to not soil the carpet. We went into a few rooms admiring all the latest gadgets from computerized light switches to high tech environmental controls. The Kitchen was fully loaded with the latest in cookware and appliances. The bedrooms were very spacious and decked out with at least 400 thread cotton sheets, fine blankets and pillow shams. Everything was very nice. So far I was impressed but nothing to really drool over until we got to the home theater.

There it was in all its glory and greatness. A room that by far beat any room we had seen thus far. It was bedecked with plush reclining coaches in two levels to give it a real theater affect. The walls were dark except for the forward wall was painted white and featured a large screen. On the ceiling was a State of the Art Hi Definition projector showing Star Wars, Attack of the Clones in full DVD quality. The surround sound system featured an array of speakers strategically positioned on every wall to envelope the entire room with crystal clear sound. John Williams immortal score boomed with great sub woofers and every ambient sound could be heard from the smallest chirping bird to the bone chilling hum of a light saber duel.

I sat on the coach for a short time, watching and listening in awe. For a short time this was no longer someone else’s room. It was mine for that brief moment in time. I thought about how I could easily live like this. I wouldn’t even need the rest of the house. Just that one room (and maybe a kitchen).

I am going back to college this fall. Recent circumstances have allowed me to alter the course of my life. I am going to fulfill my longtime dream of finishing my degree. I am forty now and still have time to complete college and start a good career. I will use the memory of that theater room to motivate me. Armed with the knowledge that if I do well and apply myself, that one day I will sit in a similar room, but this time it really will be mine.