He Has A Dream...
Most of my followers are familiar with my son Leland and his lifelong plans to become a successful engineer.
If you're new to our little family, Leland made the decision at the ripe old age of four to go to college and become an engineer. He told anyone who would listen about his grand plans to help the world. Seven years later, these plans have not changed. In fact, he has expanded them to include the colleges he wants to apply to (He learned about MIT a couple of years ago. A single year of tuition sans books, supplies, and housing nearly gave me a heart attack. We learned about scholarships that year.) and the specific fields of engineering he would like to study in. He's committed.
Anyway, recently Leland discovered a love of cars and began studying them. He found obsession in the Audi R8, and declared that his first purchase as a successful engineer would be that very car. (Of course, by then there will probably be a newer, more advanced model, but I don't like to throw reality out there like that.)
Today, as we pulled into one of our store parking lots and prepared to make another exhausting journey out of the car with three cranky kiddos... a loud, shrill scream erupted from the backseat. Before I could even fully turn my head, Leland flew forward over the center console with his arm extended into a full point out the front windshield.
There, on the road approaching the parking lot, was a white and silver Audi R8. In. Real. Life.
I pulled out my phone to record it for Leland as it turned in to the parking lot. And then it got even more amazing.
The Audi parked right next to us.
Before we even knew what was happening, Leland was out of the car and descending on the poor, unsuspecting driver. A tall young man with shoulder-length hair stepped out of the car and smiled at us. Gavin made his way behind Leland to explain the hysteria.
He told him that Leland was determined to become an engineer and that his vehicle was the exact one that Leland loved and planned to buy. The young man laughed and said "My Dad is an engineer. And this is his car. He loves it."
Leland could have just burst. There it was. His confirmation. He turned back to look at me in silent disbelief. And if you know Leland, you know silence isn't his thing.
"Do you want to get in?"
Oh. My. God.
He opened the car door and Leland slid into the seat. Gavin pulled out his phone to take pictures. I was so busy staring at my son's face, taking in this amazing moment, I couldn't move.
"Grab the wheel, dude!"
Leland smiled the biggest smile and put his hands on the wheel. I just can't adequately explain to you my son's soul in this moment. He was touching the sky. He was discovering fire. He was making a wheel.
He will never forget this moment. This photo will be on his desk in his engineering firm. When he is an old man, out of his mind and funny with age, this will be his story he tells over and over again.
For a brief moment today, my baby touched his dreams. I don't think that young man truly knew what he did, but bless him.
If you're new to our little family, Leland made the decision at the ripe old age of four to go to college and become an engineer. He told anyone who would listen about his grand plans to help the world. Seven years later, these plans have not changed. In fact, he has expanded them to include the colleges he wants to apply to (He learned about MIT a couple of years ago. A single year of tuition sans books, supplies, and housing nearly gave me a heart attack. We learned about scholarships that year.) and the specific fields of engineering he would like to study in. He's committed.
Anyway, recently Leland discovered a love of cars and began studying them. He found obsession in the Audi R8, and declared that his first purchase as a successful engineer would be that very car. (Of course, by then there will probably be a newer, more advanced model, but I don't like to throw reality out there like that.)
Today, as we pulled into one of our store parking lots and prepared to make another exhausting journey out of the car with three cranky kiddos... a loud, shrill scream erupted from the backseat. Before I could even fully turn my head, Leland flew forward over the center console with his arm extended into a full point out the front windshield.
There, on the road approaching the parking lot, was a white and silver Audi R8. In. Real. Life.
I pulled out my phone to record it for Leland as it turned in to the parking lot. And then it got even more amazing.
The Audi parked right next to us.
Before we even knew what was happening, Leland was out of the car and descending on the poor, unsuspecting driver. A tall young man with shoulder-length hair stepped out of the car and smiled at us. Gavin made his way behind Leland to explain the hysteria.
He told him that Leland was determined to become an engineer and that his vehicle was the exact one that Leland loved and planned to buy. The young man laughed and said "My Dad is an engineer. And this is his car. He loves it."
Leland could have just burst. There it was. His confirmation. He turned back to look at me in silent disbelief. And if you know Leland, you know silence isn't his thing.
"Do you want to get in?"
Oh. My. God.
He opened the car door and Leland slid into the seat. Gavin pulled out his phone to take pictures. I was so busy staring at my son's face, taking in this amazing moment, I couldn't move.
"Grab the wheel, dude!"
Leland smiled the biggest smile and put his hands on the wheel. I just can't adequately explain to you my son's soul in this moment. He was touching the sky. He was discovering fire. He was making a wheel.
He will never forget this moment. This photo will be on his desk in his engineering firm. When he is an old man, out of his mind and funny with age, this will be his story he tells over and over again.
For a brief moment today, my baby touched his dreams. I don't think that young man truly knew what he did, but bless him.
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