If I Had A Million Dollars

I have this reccurring dream... it's about how I'm going to move back to New Orleans and open an animal shelter. My sister has thought of ways Sacred Heart could raise money, I tell relatives I'm going to hit them up one day, and I've even picked a spot. Katrina left pockets of areas devastated - it could be a win win. Sometimes before I go to bed I think of ways to do it, and what it would look like. Everybody (Oprah) says that you should pay attention to those kinds of voices, but so far I've opted not to. What can you really do? If you're me, you can get a real job, surf non-profit websites, and give what money you can. And that's enough for now. But I do wonder... how many people really want to do something that would actually help, but choose not to? I'm sure Danny Thomas dreamed of St. Jude before he laid the foundation. And can you imagine if he didn't?

I'm no Danny Thomas, though. And yet, I'm married to someone who thinks I can do it. Isn't that crazy? I've bought books about starting non profits. I've looked for classes on grant writing. I even shadowed a vet for a day to see if I could go that route. I can't. I want to pick dogs up off the street, not take their stool sample. It's just a dream, really. I've had others too. When I started making frames, I dreamed they were so popular that I became the next Kate Spade. But even in that dream the millions I made went to a shelter. And a new wardrobe.

That's why I can't take this seriously... chances are it won't happen. Chances are whatever you think of doing won't happen either. We'll have kids and get bigger houses and those things will become less important. But just in case, I'm throwing it out there. Did you know that if your goal is written down, you're 80% more likely to achieve it? So that's all this is. I'm just writing it down. I know I'm going to grow up and get a real job. I actually like working. I like dressing up and making money. I'm sure everybody has their "thing" and this is just mine. But it does make me wonder. Am I alone in this? How many of you are dreaming impossible things? What would people really be capable of if they didn't have to compromise? The Saints are in the Super Bowl for pete's sake. Maybe anything's possible.

PS - Just in case your thing is animals, take a look and donate. There are people with more guts than me doing amazing things. Here are the two that I love to give to - www.strayrescue.org and www.aspca.org. All they need is money.