Lori Borgman: Big dreams with a cherry on top

Lori Borgman, Tribune News Service on Apr 22, 2025

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One of our granddaughters announced she is going to an ice cream parlor on her honeymoon. I thought it would be good to get that on record in case she changes her mind and starts talking about a Caribbean cruise or backpacking through Europe.

She is not engaged.

She doesn’t date.

She is 6.

To the best of everyone’s knowledge, she has never even had a crush, let alone a boyfriend. Frankly, some boys are afraid of her. I’m not saying they’re wrong to be afraid. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As a matter of fact, I hope she still has that quality when she does start dating.

We don’t think she has her eye on anyone just yet, she is simply dreaming far into the future when one day she may leave her first loves: Ranger, the big black lab with a tail that can knock you across the room; Annie, the red lab that licks your face; Dusty, the hefty cat with an attitude to match; Jellybean, the lop-eared rabbit that chews clothes, bedding and romaine; and the chickens and ducks, and all the cute little mice.

Oh, and the family. She loves the family.

It would take a special power to pull her from those many loves, and apparently ice cream will be part of that pull.

Perhaps she’s been inspired by the old fashioned ice cream parlor in town. It has magnificent vintage woodwork, big mirrors, ice cream chairs with black iron scrolls and sundaes that come in parfait tulip glasses with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

It’s good to dream at any age. Imagination is fuel for the future.

The child is what some might call a visionary, especially when it comes to wardrobe. She often pairs red cowgirl boots with a fluffy pink tutu, leggings and a unicorn pajama top. Is that Versace we hear calling?

Red cowgirl boots are a staple in her world. They’re for all seasons and all occasions. In the summer, she wears them with her swimsuit. It’s a head-turner at the neighborhood pool in the city ‘burbs where her cousins live.

Her hair is usually styled messy mode with curls swirling this way and that, sweeping across her eyes and straddling her nose. Nothing wrong with messy hair. You work with what God gives you.

Maybe one day she will find a fellow who will love and respect her, and she will love and respect him back and they’ll live happily ever after with dogs and cats and ducks and chickens and eat ice cream every day that ends in y.

Dream big.