{Straight From the Heart} *Are You a Dreamer* 2/8/00
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ARE YOU A DREAMER?
By Mary Emma Allen
When people met my dad, the year before his death, they'd often
remark, "I'd never guess he was 92-years old."
No, Father didn't seem to be nine decades old. His mind was
extremely alert; he was up to date on current events; and he was involved
in managing his finances and real estate dealings, even though he'd had
to slow down physically.
Plans for the Future
He had plans for the future development of the land he owned. He
was constantly developing new dreams and goals for his life and the
property and kept Mother, who was 80, busy writing letters as he searched
out new ventures.
He still took an interest in town politics, and frequently
younger people came to him for advice because he had been actively
involved in town affairs for many years.
At that age, he still enjoyed traveling and delighted in jaunts
to from his New York home to New Hampshire to spend a few days at our
home in the woods. He also visited one of his sons in central New York.
Why So Young?
What kept Father young in thought and spirit?
I came to the conclusion it was because he was a "dreamer" who
put those dreams into reality. He always had some plans underway to
keep his mind active, to keep him meeting people, to make him forget
physical discomforts, to help him overcome temporary disappointments.
Dreamer & Doer
As I look back, I realize Father always was a dreamer; but he
also was a "doer." And Mother was involved in many of his achievements,
too, thus enabling him to carry out those dreams and plans.
Father was able to go through school only as far as the eighth
grade in the early 1900s. But beginning as a dairy farmer, who also
worked in the woodlots in his youth, Father gradually acquired three
farms, established an apple orchard, then started on commercial building
ventures.
He also was civic minded and contributed many years to town and
county politics.
Are You a Dreamer?
Are you a dreamer? Do you have plans and goals to keep you young?
Our country was founded by dreamers, and many of our most
productive dreamer/doers live in its rural areas contributing to their
local communities to help make this land great.
Inspiring Future Generations
Do you have dreams and goals to move your life forward, to keep
you from stagnating, and to give your children and grandchildren
inspiration?
Father's accomplishments have helped to encourage me to have
dreams and goals. And years ago, he encouraged me to take a journalism
course which led to a newspaper career. Then he called my attention to a
course in writing for children. From this I became a published writer of
children's stories.
Never Too Old
You're never too old to dream, to set your world on fire. Enrich
your life, as Father did his and that of others, by finding a continual
succession of dreams which keep you reaching out and achieving your
goals.
Mary Emma
me.allen@juno.com
Web Site: http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea;
Send Mary Emma an email and let her know what you thought about her writing!
A little bit about Mary:
I'm a children's writer, journalist, columnist, and book author, as well
as wife, mom, and grandmother. My books include an anthology of children's
stories, "Tales of Adventure & Discovery", which I also illustrated.
These illustrations now are available as signed posters. Other books
include, "When We Become the Parent to Our Parents" about coping with my
mom's Alzheimer's, "Writing in Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont," a
resource book for writers, and "The Magic of Patchwork." I've also
written manuals to help writers with their writing. I edit three
newsletters and my latest is "Parenting Our Parents," to encourage
caregivers of elderly parents and relatives. I give talks to Alzheimer's
support groups and teach writing workshops. I shall be teaching at
Bridging the Years 2000, a writers conference for writers ages 9-90, at
Lake George, NY, on April 28 & 29.)
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Thought For The Day:
"The man who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets
badly cheated."
Verse for the Day:
"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
John 12:43
Kid's Thought For The day:
"Picking your nose when no one is looking is still picking your nose."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have
been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle."
(Sam Levenson)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Nothing makes a player more productive than the last minute."
(John Kessel)
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Never ask a barber if you need a haircut."
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/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
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a beautiful job! They were so suprised and so touched---they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for
the video too! Thanks again!"
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