Feb. 25, 2008 Monday

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Did you ever want something you know you could never have? Great wealth? A movie career?

I've always wanted a steam locomotive of my own, and a few acres of land to lay track. Not impossible; all I need is cash. But totally impractical.

I grew up around steam locomotives. My grandfather drove one. My parents lived a few miles from a freight yard and my father and I used to go down there on weekends and spend hours watching them make up trains for destinations unknown.

Walt Disney had the same desire. He ended up building a miniature live steam railroad in his back yard. But it wasn't enough, so he built Disneyland so he could have a full-size railroad to putt around in.

I'm not that imaginative. Or that rich. But I think about it.