Size matters...

First of all, let me apologize for the hiatus, I got a bit wrapped up in other social media and kind of neglected my blog, well, I am back at it and am pledging to post once a week. Still adding design stuffs, but I want to share more of myself, thoughts, ramblings, etc. as well. So, here is the first installment....

Size matters....

What matters to you? This summer, my family and I took a little road trip to the black hills of South Dakota. If you have never been, it is beautiful country! Our destination was about 12 hours away and we loaded up the Aztek and away we went. Now, I love me car, and I know it may be a little weird looking, but there are a lot of little design elements of it, that I really appreciate. I digress....so we head off, SD bound.

Now everyone has a memory, fond or not of family road trips, and we haven't traveled via car lately so I wasn't sure how the girls would handle the trip. My memory was that of a little trip to Winnipeg when I was probably 9 or 10. The younger of my brothers, tells the story best of being in the back seat when out of his mouth pours, "pass the fricken, fracking, f***ing orange slices." At age 7 or 8, really not understanding what it was that just passed his lips, he likely had heard the word before, but never uttered in public. He continues that all he saw was was a hand from the front seat grabbing him to get his attention and then being told sternly that he won't be using that language again. The event became on of lore and to this day, I can't pass a package of orange slices with out a little smile on my face. Will this trip hold something for my girls that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, something that will put a smile on their face, I hope so.

Orange slices in tow (ours actually BEING real orange slices rather than those sugared jelly type) we set off. Our first stop was in New Salem, ND where we stopped to see Salem Sue. The plaque there reads:

Salem Sue - The WORLD'S largest Holstein Cow is 38 feet height, 50 feet long and weighs 12,000 pounds. Salem Sue was erected in 1974 at a cost of nearly $40,000.00 contributed by dairymen, farmers, businessmen, the dairy industry and area residents. The New Salem (ND) Lions organized the project and the club continues to maintain the site.

Every road trip needs some type of quirky out of the ordinary experience and this fit the bill.

Back and the car and we are off. We make a quick loop through Theodore Roosevelt National park, taking in the beautiful vistas of the Badlands, which were unusually colorful because of recent rains. The expanse of the area is incredible and I reflect on those who first traversed this area and the reaction of the President for which the area was named. It is certainly breathtaking.

We continue on to the Black Hills, and spend the weekend visiting the usual sites, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Mammoth site, Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns, the National Presidential Wax Museum and more. Early on, I recognize a theme to the trip, and that was obviously "Scale," but as we continued, what became more and more clear to me was that wasn't just the size or scale, it was about people with big dreams. And not only big dreams, but the passion and conviction to press on, even when others scoffed at them, even over years and in the light of a depression, hardships and just plain bad weather,  to press on to see their dream to completion. 

Now, anyone can create something big, and sometimes bigger isn't always better, but the things that we saw, were things that will stand the test of time. In thousands of years, Mt. Rushmore will still stand, Crazy horse will still be pointing out over the mountains, Salem Sue still might be gazing north over the prairie. But, each of those started with a dream. A thought in someone's head, probably shared a coffee with friends and family. I wonder what the reaction to that shared dream was, I have to believe there were more than a few "Are you crazy? It will never happen? And are you out of your freaking mind?" moments for those dreamers. But what caused them to press on and not give in to that negative thinking?

I recently heard the concept that you can climb a mountain taking baby steps, and it resonated with me. We live in a society where everyone wants things done quickly, but for the really big dreams, maybe it is OK that it takes time. Maybe we appreciated them more, because we have continued to consider, revamp, and adjust all while keeping that big dream in site.

It all leads me to wonder, where are our dreamers today? Are you one of them? The big bold outrageous dreamers who will stop at nothing to see that dream to fruition. Those who are so passionate they will work for the rest of their lives on that one single dream. Are they out there? Do they exist? I certainly hope so. I would like to have that calling, and perhaps it is whispering in my ear waiting to be recognized. Can you hear it? Do you hear your own whisper?

Think of those big dreamers, what if they ignored their whisper? What greatness and beauty would we all be deprived of because of that selfishness? So, for today, take a moment and just listen. Is it there? Do you hear it? Does it scare the crap out of you? Then it is probably worth going after.

So, more than a smile when they pass orange slices, I hope my girls got something more out of our little road trip. I hope they hold fast to their dreams. Listen to that whisper, gaze upon the stars and dream. Dream the really big dreams, and chase them with all they have.

I will leave you with a quote of the infinite wisdom of one of the great philosophers of our time, Kermit the Frog, from "The Rainbow Connection."

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might see

Someday we'll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that called
The young sailors
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that I'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

After all, who would have thought a little green frog puppet would have touched the hearts of so many....so here's to the lovers, the dreamers, and me!