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Columnist faces up to a tough fact: not one of his many Walter Mitty fantasies is going to happen Date published: 1/6/2009 By Rob Hedelt I'M NOT a big one Ones I've adopted in recent years have been toast by Valentine's Day. But I do believe that the arrival of each new year is an opportunity to see where you stand in this big adventure called life. For some reason, this year is one when I've faced up to some things that, at this point, are probably never going to happen. You know those daydreams we all have, those Walter Mitty moments when we imagine ourselves doing something larger than life? It hit me one recent afternoon that my favorite ones probably aren't ever going to happen. Starting with the one where I'm at a rock concert, somebody like Dave Matthews or Bruce Springsteen. In this fantasy, the crowd gets restless after the concert goes an hour past its designated start, then is surprised to see the star stride out through parted curtains. "My friends, I'm sorry He then adds, "Unless there's a world-class drummer out there, I'm afraid we're going to have to cancel the concert." Which is when I run up on stage and pound the skins with such aplomb that I earn not only the crowd's appreciation and cheers, but a career as the band's new drummer--botulism being pretty tough to come back from. Sure, it's a silly daydream. But because you never want to give up on the most far-fetched chance that it, or something similarly fantastic can come true, you file it in your subconscious under "stranger things have happened." Along with one you could call "The Big News Breakout." In this daydream, I'm doing a routine interview for a feature story and all of the sudden a big disaster/presidential kidnapping/alien encounter takes place. Without batting an eye, I shift from feature mode to high-intensity reporting, throwing my body and soul into the story. By the next day, big newspapers and TV networks all around the globe carry my byline and spoken word, telling the world what it needs to know.
I thought that I was the only one in the area who knew the fictional character. Most of the college aged students I know have never heard of Walter the Mighty. I thought I was the only one who had Walter Mitty moments, and that I had actually invented him to justify my visions of greatness. Thanks Rob for sharing.
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