As we look forward to, maybe the word is anticipate, what this forthcoming new year holds … I literally sit here with a blank sheet of paper.
What about you? Forget “resolutions” … they’ve never been part of my thinking and, for most, they seldom are remembered or acted upon even through the month of January – right?
More importantly, what are your dreams? What do you dream of the future holding for you? What would you like to be doing a year from now … or where would you like to be in January 2020?
What, you don’t have a single dream related to a change in your life? Are you totally satisfied with where you are and what you have, you love what you do, there’s no great desire on your heart that is unfulfilled? Is that good? I’m not sure.
I woke up this morning with lines from two songs on my mind … both lyrics written by one of my musical heroes, Oscar Hammerstein II. The first is sung by Bloody Mary in South Pacific:
You gotta have a dream, if you don’t have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Personally, right now … we are at a crossroads, as my dear wife of 43 years faces the greatest medical challenge of her life. Therefore, my great dream, my prayer, is that she shall come through this battle and that we can share more good years and experience more anniversaries and “good times” together.
Otherwise, my thoughts range from what’s ahead to what’s behind – the only thing certain about the days going forward are anniversaries of significant events in history. Two of those on my calendar for 2019 come up in the spring … they are:
On May 10th, thousands of railroad historians and railfans alike will gather in northern Utah at the Golden Spike National Historic Site — also known as Promontory Point — to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act in 1962, which authorized two railroads — the Central Pacific to build east from Sacramento and the Union Pacific to build west beginning at the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa — to undertake construction and receive payment from the Government for each mile completed. The race was on to see how many miles each could build before meeting up with the other … which occurred seven years later at Promontory.
On June 6th, there’ll be ceremonies on the Normandy Coast of France in observance of the 75th anniversary of what became known as the D-Day invasion of World War Two … the landing of Allied forces, made up of tens of thousands of men––many Americans — on narrow beaches facing steep cliffs and intense German resistance … during the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, to begin liberating western Europe from domination by Hitler and his Nazi forces.
As for memories, from a personal aspect there are many … they are what a lot of these Musings week after week are about, memories – historical happenings and experiences related to my involvement with broadcasting and to a lesser extent, railroading.
Yet, life is better when we look to the future. Are your eyes open to see potential opportunities to make a difference in your life, your family’s life, the lives of others? If not, back track and check the words of Bloody Mary above!
I still love the radio business and follow industry happenings … and wish that I could be involved in some way, to help re-vitalize it. Yet, I wonder if my insights, my concepts, my thinking would be effective in today’s radio––yet, if I had the energy, I would love to try some of them.
These things are not being said to extract any pity whatsoever … they are being stated with the hope that, if you are capable, you will search out and find an opportunity to possibly fulfill and live a dream that you’ve been carrying for far too long. Instead of years from now saying “I wish I had done or tried so and so,” take that action now.
One prime reason I wrote my book is the hope that it would provide instructive insights and knowledge for young people seeking to enter and find success in radio or another branch of the media. Along with this, I commend another radio industry veteran, Dan Vallie, who some years ago launched the National Radio Talent Institutes, dedicated to preparing the next generation of broadcasters for leading the radio industry into its second century!
Yes, living out a dream can at times be a lonely road, and most don’t come without obstacles! I know, over my more than 80 years on this earth … I’ve tried and failed more than once. Yet, if I hadn’t tried, they’d still be unfulfilled dreams and wishes sitting as a burden, wouldn’t they?
I leave you with the words from one of––in my opinion––the greatest inspirational songs ever written, again penned by Mr. Hammerstein … “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel:
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone,
You’ll never walk alone.
In 2019, let us walk on … walk on in harmony, seeking the peace and love I wrote about last week!
Thank you for taking time to read my weekly Musings. I do hope you’ll check back next week to see where the road leads.
