A Man Has Dreams...

“A man has dreams of walking with giants,
to carve his niche in the edifice of time.”

These have long been some of my favorite lines from the film, Mary Poppins. In the film, George Banks is reflecting on what he thought his life would be and what his life has become. Like George Banks, I think all men and women grow up having grand dreams of what our futures would be and then live in the reality of what our lives are.

Yet, the words, a man has dreams are not restricted to a certain place and specific time. No, these words are timeless, and each morning we are greeted with a new opportunity to dream and to reach.

I have had several dreams in my life; some have come true and others continue to elude me. One dream that I have had, had its beginning on Monday, June 5, 2000. On that day my first grandchild, Devon, was born! Shortly after he drew his first breath, a dream began to breathe in me. That dream – to walk down Main Street U.S.A. with my grandson. Over time, that dream has grown to include, not just Devon, but Shelby, Luke, Emmery, and Jackson (our as I like to call him, Jack-Jack). My song has been, “This man has dreams of walking with grandkids, to share the parks with the little ones he loves.”

On Saturday, September 5, 2009, the dream will become a reality! On, what I hope will be a cool, crisp, September morn, Mrs. Doc and I, along with my son, daughter-in-law, and their children, Devon, Shelby and Jack-Jack, will gather before the Walt Disney World Railroad Station and watch the Magic Kingdom Welcoming Ceremony. We’ll all pass through the tunnel and out into Town Square, there we’ll be greeted by the sounds of “Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby” and the aroma of freshly popped corn. Then, one of my grandest dreams will come true as my grandchildren and I join hands and walk down Main Street U.S.A.

I don’t know, and I am not ashamed to say it, but there may be a tear or two in my eyes.

I sure hope so.
More to follow…