Who ya gonna be...

I wake up everyday to the sounds of my boys voices begging me for "Apple O's" and asking to watch "Caillou" . In those few minutes prior to the chaos of the day beginning and the quiet crunching of cereal commences, I watch them for a moment. Staring into my children's faces, I often wonder..."who ya gonna be, little man?" With the birth of my newest son, I have asked the same question in my mind many times this past week. "Who ya gonna be?". This of course makes me reflect upon my own dreams and desires as a kid and my current ambitions of BECOMING.
Who am I gonna be?...

When I was a kid, I wanted to be Indiana Jones:


I read as many books about archeology and Egyptology as I could. It was my dream to discover Nefertiti's burial chamber. I was obsessed with King Tut when other kids were in love with Gem and the Holograms. I even had the nerve to pick Alexander the Great as my focus for a 4th grade class project on "what famous person (dead or alive) would I like to meet and why"...the other kids picked rock bands,relatives, athletes or TV icons. Ok, so I was weird! When I lived in St. George Utah, I was invited to go on a dig at the Anasazi Valley site in Zions National Park, which I thought was the coolest thing I had ever done. Of course, I didn't care that the whole 5th grade got invited to tag along with me.
I dabbled in the idea once I was in college, but could never commit to the idea that I might only be a museum curator. It is still my dream to spend significant time touring and exploring Egypt.



In high school I was very involved in debate/forensics and speech. I loved the idea that I could someday be a great orator. Cicero, was my favorite orator. Considering he was alive in 106 BC, I decided that putting a picture of his bust in my locker was a really uncool thing to do. I opted instead, for a picture of Ted Koppel, who gave the famous commencement speech on the topic of the "Vannatizing" of American Society. The famous line is "What Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions, they are Commandments. Are not were." It is still one of my favorite speeches. Now days, I am fine speaking in church or teaching a class, but have no interest in getting into debates or ethical arguments with anyone who reflects current mainstream ideology. Its not worth throwing my pearls before swine (teehee!).


In recent years, I have really wanted to be Rick Steves. Can you imagine getting paid to travel and stay at hotels across the world. Lucky man! My dilemma these days is trying to figure out how to haul 3 kids in a mini-van to grandmas house. I cant imagine having to take them with me out of the country multiple times a year. Not to mention, I wouldnt want to have to pay to use a public toilet in Europe with two grouchy 3 year olds and their portable toilet seats. "Two for the Loo, please". Scratch that dream....
Right now, I prefer to dream of being Rachel Ray. Making all my families meals in less than 30-mins. And I am not taking about making Mac and Cheese every night. I want gourmet food!!! Who knows, I am starting to think with a little time, this could actually be possible. Now that I am no longer pregnant, I can stand the smell of red meat again! Bring on the Kielbasa!


Most importantly, my kids remind me that I am trying to become the most important thing in the world. A good mom, wife and friend. Some days are better than others, but I feel grateful to have that as the ultimate goal. I have a wonderful mother who sets a great example for me to follow. I think I will try this hat on for a bit and keep trying to become.
Who ya gonna be?