I was in a gym surrounded by first graders. Part of me feared someone would blow a conch shell and the whole group would rush me. But they didn’t. They sat patiently as the rest of the classes walked in. One little girl sported a pink cast.
“What happened to you?” I inquired.
“Fell off the monkey bars.”
I nodded. Monkey bars will do that to you.
The lights dimmed and so did the nervous little voices. I introduced the first graders at Madison Crossing Elementary to the world of Banjo. Banjo, the little brown dog who could, is about making dreams come true, I told them. Dreams like theirs. Many of them had met Banjo via his book, “Banjo’s Dream.” The rest got to meet the dog with the world’s biggest heart.
They got a little rowdy halfway through my program — mainly because I was engaging them and asking lots of questions. I could tell by their answers that they’re imaginations were firing on all cylinders. They saw the paw prints. They learned about Banjo, Sam and Pip. Then, the lights came back on and we said goodbye.
When I was their age, my imagination was sparked by a television cartoonist at WSB-TV named Bill Daniels. I met him at the Marietta Public Library and I was wowed at his work (he late
r went on to be a graphic artist at the Weather Channel). A dream germinated that day. I wanted to be a cartoonist just like him.
As I looked out in the audience, I hoped that I was able to pay that forward. I hope at least one kid thought about something they really wanted to do. I hope in 40 years, one of them will talk to another first grade class and pay their dream forward, too. Because you never know when you will inspire someone to chase their dreams.
P.S. Thanks to Madison Crossing Elementary School and Lela Hester for allowing me to be part of your Wednesday morning and sharing Banjo with you.