Hope, Dreams and Endurance on the edge of America and in me.

Even in the desert, stars are till able to shine brightly. In fact it is there where they so often shine the brightest. Hope never leaves us I suppose. Not those of us still among the living...metaphorically and otherwise.

I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted. My mother and grandmother made sure this concept was implanted in my mind. I don’t remember what my Father had to say on the subject but I don’t think it was contrary to this belief. Pop was and remains a pragmatist.
The Possibilities were wide open from my perspective. I could be a fireman, a policeman, a scientist, an artist, a writer, concert violinist, rock star or even the President of the United States of America. However I should add that it was made clear to me that I could not be The Red Baron or Snoopy when I grew up...My guidance was idealistic in nature not moronic. There were dreams to chase that did not even exist in any time prior to my own and those were open to me as well. According to those whom I looked to for love guidance, food, shelter and toys* I could be an astronaught For the first time in the history of mankind this kind of opportunity was a reality to anyone willing to aspire to it. However like so many kids brought up in the Seventies on a steady diet of westerns, Kung-Fu Theater, medical crusader dramas* , cop thrillers, and especially M*A*S*H*. I always wanted to be the avenging hero A lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I fount it, standing for freedom, truth, and justice the American way.*** To this day a fragment of that desire to be a Paladin remains in my heart of hearts. I still track the remnants of that dream wherever I go, in my endless ride into the setting sun. Now back to you Connie...



*Remember ‘Quincy’?
**"Rock-em Sock-em Robots", and "Crash-em up Derby" in particular
***I was raised in a very Patriotic household and it doesn't hurt that I watched Superman well either.