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July 2007
The Duke's Spin
By: Brad Reed
Creative Writer
Four years old? Maybe five? Six? How old were you when the Santa Claus 'mystique' was most dominant in your young life? It goes way back for me; so long ago that I can't remember my age when the rotund one in the red suit captured my fullest attention for weeks at a time. However, I do remember the anxiety of the day after day of ponderment, wondering what the jolly old fellow was going to leave for me under the tree. The anticipation was sometimes overwhelming. This feeling is still with me today, only the scenery has changed somewhat. And I am not alone in this feeling.
Many of you have expressed these same thoughts of exited eagerness to me recently. "I wonder what will occupy this building; a restaurant, an ice cream parlor, an office?" "What new neighborhood enticements will the next phases include?" "We have streetcars…what are they for?" Yep, the need to know can be very consuming at times, and it takes a great effort to fight back the 'demand to know now' and replace it with the dream game I played when I was young.
Back then, when I was a kid, my dreams were hopefully answered on December 25th. Many times they were; some times they weren't. Life goes on. As I grew a bit older, I began to suspect that Mom and Dad were the surrogate Santa, but I never led on to my suspicions for fear that the flow of trinkets would be somewhat diminished. Even though I eventually would figure it out, I never hunted for my soon to be 'surprise' gifts because I might actually find them and blow the surprise. I liked the intrigue; the mystery; the not knowing what I was going to receive on Christmas morning. It was more fun for me this way...it furthered my childhood status and it continued my game of obscurity.
In this same vein, I constantly try to figure out what the next step of accomplishment in New Town will be, but it's not something that I demand to know prematurely. Sure, it would be great if the overall development plan was documented down to the last day of construction, and everything was built accordingly, but for me, the fun would be gone and I would be very disappointed. I love watching our community grow; witnessing it's development; experiencing it's aches and pains...and also being a part of it's achievements. And I like the fact that I can discover each day's accomplishments with the vigor of an explorer, rather than verifying the completions of each step with the romanticism of a teacher grading homework.
So, as I fight off the desire to know everything as it leaves the designer's work tables, I still try to remember the days when Santa seized my attention and fed my dreams. My anticipation is skyrocketing and hopefully it keeps my mind young. And as much as I want to know every detail of what is planned for our community and when it will happen, I try to live with what I have in front of me and utilize the fantastic opportunities which are available right now. By enjoying what our community has given to me so far, and with more and more residents offering new community diversions and socially interactive pastimes, I soon won't be able to keep up with my exploring.
Life is way too short to worry about things I cannot control. Each year adds validity to this concept. Step out and enjoy the many events and opportunities we have before us, and relinquish the burning necessity to know every detail of what's to come. Dreams are good for the soul. Participate and enjoy. Tomorrow will be here before you know it.
Guess I'm just a big kid, eh?
"The Duke of Hempstead"
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