Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Ever since I first saw the Wizard of Oz as a youngster, I loved this song. It has the ability to transcend place and time and in my case encouraged me to dream and look beyond the here and now and not simply wish for things, but actually believe that I COULD have them as well.

This feeling is somewhat more poignant now as yesterday revealed I am a major step closer to the achievement of some of those dreams.

I have had a vision circling within my head for some 10 years and 4 years ago I formulated the idea and pitched it to a company and I am now so close to the realisation of it, I feel it could soon change my life.

Truthfully though it already has.

Whilst the idea was and is original, since I embarked down this road the idea I originally had has been refined, purified in a sense and improved. I believe the concept will revolutionise an aspect of photography in this country like no-one else has before.

What the hell, I dreamed a big dream, and have no shame for doing so.

I am humbled and happy to be where I am at this next moment in the process. I am grateful to have been able to have other key people believe in the dream as well. It is a thrilling moment when you see other people catch the vision when they have a light bulb moment and can finally see everything in play and say WOW.

I live with WOW almost everyday, Wow that I can dream, Wow that I can see that dream coming true.

With all the issues that have arisen concerning the fruition of this idea, together with being stretched and guided by great people to find solutions to those issues has been a thrilling experience. The issues have stretched me as I have been forced to look at processes and systems outside my own, coupled with the veritable mine field of wading through the law as well.

From the vantage I stand at presently, the true joy is not simply in crossing the finishing line, whilst that can be exciting and praiseworthy, the exciting part of the creation and fruition of this idea is in the development of the process, the training, the stretching and small wins along the way that have spurred me on. Not unlike an athlete training and getting better at their craft I suspect.

So, in the immortal and powerful lyrics may I close this post by saying

Someday I'll wish upon a star, And wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

HARBURG, E / ARLEN, HAROLD