Throwback Thursday From July 2016 – “When I Grow Up I Want To Be…”
Throwback Thursday From July 2016 –
When I Grow Up I Want To Be…
WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN we all had fantasies about what we wanted to be when we “grew up.” I wanted to be a cowboy. Dawn wanted to be a Playwright – a rather precocious child. My brother wanted to be a baseball player. In one of my father’s high school yearbooks he listed that his career ambition was to become a “Traveling Silk Stocking Salesman.” I’m sure his mother was thrilled when she saw that. He ended up as a Roofer.
My dream of becoming a cowboy changed when I realized that live horses were a lot bigger than me. I changed my ambition to being a conductor on passenger trains. My timing was not good.
Dad had a different career path in mind for me. He told me once that, “You’ll never be able to make a living with your back, so you’re going to have to do it with 
your brain.” His suggestion was that I become a Bookie. Mom was not happy with that idea.
The reason I bring this up at all is because of something one of the younger family members said last week.
Down in Texas at “Gramma’s” house, a trio of little ones were going to spend the day while their parents were needed elsewhere. The kids were going to be looked after by their 95 year old Great-Grandmother, but not according to Sydney, the oldest of the three kids. At the age of eleven she felt that the younger ones were her responsibility.
There were no problems. The day went as smooth as a Traveling Silk Stocking Salesman. When the parents returned they were greeted by Sydney who had an announcement to make. She had made a career decision.
“When I grow up I want to be a Dictator. I like being in charge.”
What do you say to that? I’m surprised she even knew the word “Dictator.”
The next time we are in Texas I’m going to have a talk with that girl.
“So, you want to be a Dictator? You know that being a Dictator is a full time job – no weekends off. In fact, you really have to work harder on weekends, otherwise you have attempted coups. Look at that mess in Turkey a couple of weeks ago. The Top Dog goes away for the weekend and some of his Army tried to take over. Being a Dictator means you have to sleep with one eye open…and no vacations.”
I’m not sure how much she follows current events, but if you have her career objective, it might be a good idea to start.
Knowing this child as I do, I’m sure she is not going to drop this idea without a fight. She will ask questions.
“What should I study in college, Uncle Krafty (That’s what they call me.)?” It’s a serious question that deserves a serious answer.
“I would suggest Political Science or Entertainment Management – they both can give you the same skills and elitist attitude. You might throw in a Minor dealing with the travel industry – just in case things get ugly for you and you have to grab your ‘bug-out bag’ full of cash and diamonds.”
“Well, I think I can handle it, Uncle Krafty. I’m good at telling people what to do. Any other advice?”
“Yes, I urge you to follow my father’s advice to me – be a Bookie.”
Down the Hall on Your Left 