We spent a great day on Saturday over at Camp Rob teaching Miss Fiona how to swim. I think it will take another go at it as it did my first Golden, Tess. We couldn't keep her out of the water most of her life! Dinner and company were fantastic. We decided to drive home the back way avoiding the highways. Honestly, it is a beautiful ride through Putnam County, NY and up over the ridge into Litchfield County, CT. As I daydreamed out the window, we drove by a row of cute (or could be very cute) cottages along the Houstanic River. Many of them have arts and crafts type bungalow styling. However, they back up to the river and I often wonder how many times they have flooded over the years.
We were going pretty slow after an intersection and I noticed a family out on the lawn of one of the houses. Both parents were smoking. The father was shirtless (not in a good way) and the mother was no picture either. The toddler was also shirtless. I said to Mr. B, "That kid should be wearing a T-Shirt that says ' DOOMED' on it." Now, while being true and we laughed very hard most of the way home. We both commented how lucky the kid was to be living in an area and country where his stars weren't fixed. He had the opportunity to make anything of a bad situation. Perhaps, his parents wanted to quit smoking and that is why they weren't in the house?
As we close the door on the Olympics and the summer, we will turn our heads sharply to the pending Presidential race. We need to ensure the next generation's options by not saddling them with programs that will make success not worth it. Goals are great. Think of how many success stories there are out there. One could honestly say my Grandfather or my husband's father could have been that little boy. They succeeded because they were determined. Government should not be the answer to a problem. Ambition, drive, and determination enable success and achievement.
