Childhood Dreams

So I read and finished Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture" this weekend and was in tears by the end... and was thinking- what were my childhood dreams? He has the greatest list of things he dreamed of doing as a child: Being in Zero gravity, Playing in the NFL, Authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia, Being Captain Kirk, Winning stuffed animals, and being a Disney Imagineer. What is super cool about him is that in some degree or another; he accomplished all of these things before he died last month at age 47 leaving his wife and three kids.

So here is my big list of what I can remember as my dreams:
1) Be a school bus driver so you can open and shut the door with the cool lever thing,


2) Be a mom someday to six kids,


3) Be a teacher that is really nice and loves her students,


4) be an astronaut and sleep in zero gravity eating cool astronaut food (inspired by the movie Space Camp).



I really think that was it- the big four. So how have I done? Well, I haven't accomplished being a bus driver; however- maybe Ryan's Uncle will give me a lesson and let me drive his bus! I seriously think I will talk him into it! Number 2- I have three kids and feel so fortunate to be a mother. Not always easy, and not going to have six, either- sorry to dissapoint! Number 3: I have a special place in my heart for my students I have taught over the past 7 years! I truly feel now that it was no mistake that I chose the profession I did: I melt over children's books, dream about redesigning a preschool with a mini toilet in the bathroom, huge 20 gallon fish tank, little chairs, lots of developmental toys... I know- I'm crazy. But I feel very lucky to have accomplished this dream and will continue for years to come- I want to be a thirty year teacher someday! Number 4: The astronaut thing is very unlikely; however- I love to be camping so that I can see the millions of stars and I love constellations and LOVED my physics class at USU where we got to look at Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with a high powered telescope- and when we were in Florida last year, Ryan drove me out to Kennedy Space Center- even if it was closed I was still in heaven!
All in all- I loved this book. I had seen him on Oprah and on e mails sent to me before this courageous man died. Life is so precious- and FUN! Check out his lecture if you missed it.