American Dream

What ever happened to "American Dream?" What is it exactly? For some people it seems to have been over for a long time and for others it happening right now. When I think of the American Dream, I think back to the 50's and 60's. I picture a perfect little family with a couple boys and girls in the family. The father is a successful small business man or a teacher or some other respected occupation. The mother is a stay-at-home-mom, always working hard around the house to make the rest of the family feel safe and comfortable. She always has pancakes, eggs, and bacon ready for the kids and her husband in the morning before they head off to school and work and then a nice hot dinner ready by the time the husband comes home from work that evening. The kids are polite, but get into trouble just as any normal kids do (except for those few kids who ARE perfect). The oldest son is a senior in high school. He's a part of the football, basketball, and track teams, proudly wearing his letterman's jacket around town. He's got his fancy new car in which he takes all the ladies proudly all around town in. The second son is a freshmen in high school and is more into music. He's in a garage band with some of his best buds and they have their first gig at a local diner on friday night after the football game. That is just a little bit of the mental picture I have when I think of the "American Dream."