To make up for all the times I did not read my kids a bedtime story, this is for you.
Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Oz there was a pretty teenage girl named Addie who lived in a small village called Plymouth. She lived above a tavern in less than privledged conditions. She dreamed of more. Maybe she was switched at birth because she always felt like she destined for something better. Royality maybe?
Around her 18th birthday, word spread throughout the Kingdom that Cheese Derby Day was coming and they were looking for a Queen. The pretty girl, saw her chance. If she could get elected Queen, she could claim her rightful throne and everyone in the Kingdom could see she belonged. But how do you get elected?
Lo and behold, it turns out that there were 3 consultants ready to help her. One was her step-grandfather Chuck Andes along with his comrades Rolly Leonhart and Al Ratke. The acronym for this consultanting group was CAR (Chuck, Al, and Rolly). Their name could have been “Frick, Frack, and Fruck” or the “Three Stooges”. They preferred CAR. It turns out that all teenage contestants for Queen had to sell $1 dollar buttons. The one that sold the most buttons would be Queen.
Well sir, The CAR group knew every tavern in OZ. They traveled far and wide in the Kingdom to frequent as many “bars” as possible. And, they sold buttons! Did they sell buttons? It turns out the more they drank, the more buttons they sold. They drank themselves to a victory for the pretty teenager. She won. Addie was the official “Cheese Derby Day Queen”. Finally, she would claim her rightful throne.
When Cheese Derby Day arrived, all of the Kingdom of Oz was alive. The subjects were all there. A parade began and Queen Addie was the royal representative. She had reached her dream. She sat on the top of the back seat of the longest Cadillac in the Kingdom. She was beautiful. Her dress was made with magic thread and it glowed. Angel dust was sprinkled in her hair to create a halo effect. She wore her sparkling tiara. The subjects waved. Queen Addie smiled and waved. She belonged here.
I don’t know if the consulting group CAR watched the parade. As far as I know, they were in some bar still selling buttons and probably celebrating. They should not be forgotten.
And then it was over. The next day arrived and Queen Addie wondered what would happen now. She had a trophy and lots of pictures. It was intoxicating. How could she ever go back to her life above the tavern? But wait! She remembered that her Queen title was for a year and her dream would go on. For that matter, just like in the Wizard of OZ, the royality was always within her. It would be there forever. She would always be a Queen to the people who know her.
The Kingdom rejoiced and everybody lived happily ever after.
So you see Grasshoppers, to achieve your dreams just look within yourself and reach for the brass ring. You can make almost anything happen. Just like Addie. You will have to find your own consultants.
Love,
Dad (Just Chas.)