MountainWings:Saturday - Buzz Lightyear's Helmet

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-------------------------------------------------MountainWings A MountainWings Moment#2154 Wings Over The Mountains of Life-------------------------------------------------Today is my late father's (Dr. iel Bronner Sr.) birthday.This was an issue that wrote years ago about my father.Buzz Lightyear's Helmet========================"See how Buzz Lightyear's helmet flips up!It is a working helmet," my five-year-old excitedly explained.He was

sitting in the bathtub playing with an action figurecalled Buzz Lightyear from the movie "Toy Story."I listened and watched intently as he explained every detail ofthe toy. It was about as exciting as mini-bike brakes.In fact, it was exactly as exciting as mini-bike brakes.Over 30 years ago, I bought a brand new, candy apple red, 3.5horsepower, Cyclops mini-bike for $175.00. I worked during thesummer and saved $25.00 per week for seven weeks to pay for it.I earned $1.00 per hour, so it took most of my pay to put $25.00aside for the mini-bike.If I could afford and purchased a multi-million dollar Lear Jettomorrow, it wouldn't have half of the excitement that theCyclops had. I remember that I rolled it inside of the houseand parked it in my bedroom for the night.My mother noticed the smell of gasoline in the house and askedwhat the smell was. When she discovered I had parked the

mini-bike in my bedroom, she promptly made me take it to the garage.Nothing material has ever come close to the mini-bike in termsof raw excitement and the fulfillment of a dream.So what does that have to do with Buzz Lightyear and his helmet?You see, the mini-bike had drum brakes, just like a car.The brakes weren't operated by hydraulics but rather by a cablefrom levers on the handlebars.I remember proudly explaining to my father about the brakes onthe Cyclops. How they operated just like his car. I explainedhow safe they were and the principle on which they worked.My father listened as though I was explaining the secret of lifeto him. My father was not a mechanical man. I now know that hedidn't really know what drum brakes were. He didn't care eitherbut I didn't know that.He knew that his son cared about them. He knew the importanceof listening, even if it was

something that he wasn't interestedin. I remember his intense steel gray eyes as they peered atthe brake mechanism nodding approval.Drum brakes on the Cyclops, hinged helmet on Buzz, same thing.It's been over 30 years. My father has been gone from this lifenearly ten years. I still remember.The Cyclops is now nothing more than dust in some junkyard orlandfill. The memory of the intense gaze and the noddingapproval is still strong.It's why I gazed so strongly and paid so much attention to thehinged helmet. Buzz, like the Cyclops, will soon be gone, butthe memories will shape a spirit and remain.Little things that you do can change a life.You never know when that moment is.What a person puts in front of you could be their dream andconstant labor. You never know what a little attention can do.You also never know what inattention can do.My son was naked in

more than the physical when he showed meBuzz. He had the shields removed and opened his heart to sharewhat he held precious.I thought that my father listened as though I was explaining thesecret of life to him. I now realize that he was showing thesecret of life to me.Remember what is precious to another, may not be to you, but itis precious nonetheless.You'll have your opportunities to shape a spirit.Don't let it pass you by, be it Buzz or brakes.~A MountainWings Original~Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox.See you tomorrow.Forward this issue to a friend or click the link below to Print,Share by Email, Facebook, Blog or other services:http://www.mountainwings.com/past/2154.htm**************************************************************** www.MountainWings.com "Wings Over The Mountains of Life"To: Subscribe, Un-Subscribe, Get a Book, T-Shirt, Rate Issues,Tell Friends about MountainWings, Read Past Issues, Donations,Submit a MountainWings Moment or Prayer Request, Set homepage toDaily issue in larger type Go To: http://www.mountainwings.com****************************************************************MountainWings, POBox 43725, 120 Selig Dr., Atlanta, GA 30336 USA