Besides being a successful printer, Benjamin Franklin was an inventor. He would often ask himself questions, such as how can I read my work and stay busy with other things. He needed to see things up close and at a distance.

So he figured out how to combine his two spectacles into one. Thus we have bifocals. He asked how he could keep his house from burning if it were struck by lightening. Thus he invented the lightning rod. And on and on.

An interesting story is told about Walt Disney. (I thing Ben Would love Walt and Disneyland!)

A man who worked at Disneyland while studying at UCLA says: “I often heard from other employees that during the Anaheim Park construction, all the construction managers, accountants, consultants, and architects agreed that there was a specific system and timetable necessary to keep costs under control and ensure the park was completed on time. To adhere to their system meant that Sleeping Beauty Castle in Fantasyland, which would be visible from virtually any- and everywhere in the park, was to be built last.

“When Walt Disney learned of their cost-efficiency scheme, he insisted that the Castle be built first. He believed the Castle provided a vision for the rest of the construction, and its image would remind all the workers on a daily basis what was meant to happen within the park.

“Despite his busy schedule, ‘Uncle Walt’ regularly toured the park, offering his hand and encouragement to individual employees. One day I asked him about the story (which had become a legend among employees). He asked me to look up toward the Castle and to tell him what I saw. I said ‘imagination.’ He put his hand on my shoulder and said: ‘Now you tell me if that story is true.’” (Rey Carr, as quoted in “Bits and Pieces, November 30, 2000, pages 4-5.

Wouldn’t you love to be with Walt Disney, or with Benjamin Franklin at Disneyland? Use your imagination!