Little Dreamer

This is a picture of my middle daughter (not current, but I love this picture). When she was little we used to ask her, "What is your favorite subject?" and her answer was always "talking". I can assure you that not much has changed there! What she likes to talk about now are all of the dreams that she has for what she'd like to be when she grows up. Here is a partial list: a pastry chef who bakes the most amazing cakes ever, a food chef (she will need to go to Japan to study), an artist, Shamu's Trainer (sorry Mom, I'm going to have to move to San Diego for a while, but I'll be back), and the next American Idol. This is the girl who very politely, yet firmly told her Grandpa - after he'd thanked her for going swimming with him - "No, Grandpa...YOU went swimming with US". I look at all of our children and feel very lucky to have each one. They are all very different in their own ways, but also all very caring and kind people. I sometimes wonder what their "generational tag" will be - we've got the baby boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, millenials, etc. each with their own set of "characteristics" (stereotypes) that have been formulated to explain how we can interact with, understand, market to, and otherwise classify them...because that is what we do. Things that we don't understand, that don't fit inside of our box scare the crap out of us! So, we spend billions of dollars and devote some of the most talented minds of our [generation to figure that stuff out. I guess it's human nature - it's definitely mine. Whatever we figure out, & whatever conclusions we draw there are a few certainties: 1) Someone will always prove you wrong, 2) at the end of the day there's nothing new under the sun, and 3) people will be people, and as such the only box that truly exists is the one we dream up. I guess all that there is left to do is to live and learn....and enjoy the journey.