I gave up on wishes gradually as I found that planning and action work better, but may have lost some of the romantic in life in their discard.

However, I have always believed that dreams can come true and can see that wishes and dreams are often intertwined. Perhaps they are sister concepts not along a straight line continuum. Perhaps a dream begins as a small wish that gains momemtum and animation in our thoughts and then in our spirits. It becomes a part of us that action can achieve.

I think my dreams are coming true, even in overcoming adversity throughout life.

No societal system or country is perfect. In a free country, there is concomitant corruption running alongside creativity, because of the exercise of free will and the inability to control all of the people all of the time.I think I live in a country where choices can make dreams come true.

Wish-dreams, then, take effort and action, including changing a presidential administration or a law that is ineffeective and making one's voice heard. This is accomplished in a number of ways, including thinking creatively, daydreaming, organizing, planning, building community, voting, standing one's ground, holding firm to hope, and even praying. This all can be hard word, but rewarding, and one hopes - some fun.

On the other hand, at the end of this article some wish fulfilling fun - a recommendation for readers to enjoy a story about how 6 wishes divided between a Bear and a Jackalope came to pass. It is not an old Indian legend from the beginning of time, but a documentary presentation from an interesting persona traveling between Hell, Michigan and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. He does so on a wish and an antler - otherwise known as a wormhole that is infested with the electric eels' local labor union.

My Three Practical Wishes:

1. That people would actually BE quiet in library "quiet areas."
2. That more people could learn to observe Personal Space boundaries-- It's getting more difficult with the increasing population worldwide. A comedian said recently that in 770 more years after 2008, there will be 10 people to each square yard of land on earth. I think it will happen sooner.
3. That children would be taught manners and self respect at the same time.

Thank you.

There are ways to handle my practical wishes that should work over time.

I have spoken with librarians in the several facilities I frequent and they assured me that they had been busy and needed to have had their attention drawn to the circumstance of noise in quiet areas. One of the libraries had lost a roving security guard to budget cuts, but arranged for "walk-a-rounds" to rotate among the staff, which welcomed the opportunity to walk a bit, rather than to stand in one place or sit for prolonged periods of time. At another, a library manager began taking regular hourly rounds and putting his attention to the quiet area in order to determine the who, what, and when of the noise.

As for personal space, I have begun to incorporate this concept more fully into the physical activities I instruct. In addition, I look more forwardly toward possible encroachment of my space and have begun to tell individuals that they are standing too close. If their behavior seems invasive, I use a loud voice; if it seems careless, use a softer tone. I also have scheduled a longer period of committed personal "alone" time daily, which will inoculate me against crowd freneticsm. Finally, I have renewed my personal-space expanding exercise movements daily (I had not considered them to be permanent activities, but within an increasing population density, they are).

As for children learning self respect and manners at once, I will simply continue this in my classes, continue to work toward eliminating abuse in all forms, and handle the outside world as always.

A psychiatrist colleague across the country told me during the Welfare to Work initiative in the 1990s that there is simply too much treat and train effectively -- Just respond to positive words, actions, and results with more interaction; and disengage with the others whever it is practical. I think this is good advise - do not engage with disrespect, but promote programs that help children keep their self esteem while they respect others.

Proverbs furnish us with summaries of conventional wisdom form the past and here are a few about wishes.

If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles. -- Ben Franklin. -- A bit cynical, or true?

And the evil wish is most evil to the wisher. -- Hesiod. -- But not according to B.T. Evilpants (read on).

If I live to grow old, as I find I go down, Let this be my fate in a country town; May I have a warm house, with a stone at my gate, And a cleanly young girl to rub my bald pate. May I govern my passions with an absolute sway, Grow wiser and better as my strength wears away, Without gout or stone, by a gentle decay. Walter Pope in The Old Man's Wish.

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION

We cannot wish for that we know not. -- Voltaire ...

One the other hand:

I dream of things that never were and say why not? -- Robert F. Kennedy

I prefer the second opinion.

IRISH WISH

May the light always find you on a dreary day.

When you need to be home, may you find your way.

May you always have courage to take a chance

And never find frogs in your underpants.

Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes. -- Chinese Proverb.

Wishes won't wash dishes. -- American Proverb.

Overall, there is likley a place for idle wishes and daydreaming for clearing the brain, also bringing about innovative ideas and changes that can better life; and a place for wish-dreams to gain animation and flight to charge ahead and make the changes that make life better.

Now visit the Three Wishes page of the great Jackalope Hubber, B.T. Evilpants, who is running for President in 2008. This page is entitled:

A Jackalope's Revenge

Best wishes from our Hubs to Yours.

The following sites include charitable organizations and other sites that look interesting and at least harmless to try.

Make-A-Wish Foundation - This is a well known organization.

When You Wish Upon A Star - UK group that grants sick childrens' wishes.

Real Wishes - This one states that is a free wish granting sytem that provides your own wish page. Their goal seems to be to have 8,888 people type in their wishes. Looks harmless, but use at your own risk.

Aging With Dignity - The Five Wishes - Deals with health issues and individual wishes for end-of-life treatment.