Being that I will soon be in Disney World so for whatever reason Jiminy Cricket popped up in my mind. For those of you who are younger than 60 or so maybe you need a refresher on who I am talking about.

Jiminy Cricket was a inspirational character in the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio. Some say that was the epitome of animated films. It was about a puppet who wanted to be a real boy. I think I was maybe five or six when I saw it.  I had seen cartoons before in the theaters but since we didn’t yet have a TV that was it. I was fascinated by the colors and the characters. I think I like Jiminy Cricket the best as he encouraged me to dream, even at that young age.

Even though it has been three score years since that film and almost thirty years since I have heard any sound, Jiminy’s voice is still clear in my mind. Of course the song When You Wish Upon a Star is still embedded in my memory.  It was probably the first time anyone had told me that is was alright to dream, and especially that dreams do at least sometimes come true.  I admit that I didn’t remember all the words so I had to look them up.

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you.

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do.

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

When a star is born
They possess a gift or two.
One of them is this
They have the power to make a wish come true.

As an adult I can now see the deeper significance of the lyrics. Believe it or not they still move me today. The overall moral of the song is:

If you really want something and work enough to make it happen you can accomplish whatever you dream.

Even though it would be years before I thoroughly understood what Jiminy was saying, I am glad that I was exposed to it at such an early age. I hope that all kids today hear that message in one form or another.