When I grow up...

Madmad - "Hey mom...can you watch me for a minute?"

Me - "Sure."

I turn and see this...

Me - "What are you doing?"

Madmad - "I'm practicing being a mime.  Can't you tell?  Don't I look just like a mime?"

Me - "Oh Yeah, you look just like a mime.  Why exactly are you practicing being a mime?"

Madmad - "Well, when I grow up I want to be a mime.  If I can't be a mime I want to be a ventriloquist.  If I can't be a ventriloquist I will see if I want to be a veterinarian.  And if THAT doesn't work out then I guess I'll just have to be a lion tamer....." 

Long pause (while I try my hardest not to laugh outloud)

Madmad - "...or a chef.  I suppose that would be ok too."

When I was her age I was dead set on being a truck driver.  I figured that was the best way to see the world.  I really thought driving the big rig was a glamorous life.  I would get to go through all the states in the USA!  I would be my own boss!  I would get to drive large machinery.

Which is still a fascination today.  I've driven a big rig truck...I've steered a cruise ship...I've driven tractors...I actually considered going on a date with a scary guy while living in DC because he promised me he'd let me drive one of the Metro trains.  (I quickly came to my senses when he smiled and I realized he had no teeth.)

Still on my list include a zamboni, digging with a backhoe and a train. 

In the meantime I'm going to practice being a mime...