Fairy Imaginings

  "If a child is to keep alive her inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies,

she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it,

 rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in"

 She has an earnest love of books,

 

fostered by her book-loving Mom,

who keeps her well supplied

 

 With an imagination that makes you truly appreciate

 

So when she puts on pajamas

 

and asks for a bedtime story,

 

 

I joyfully embrace the ritual

  as part of the special relationship

  this Nana and Granddaughter share.

One night she suddenly decides

to put aside the bedside books 

 

asking for a "made-up" story instead.

 

She requests it be about a fairy...

Like a camp out, with the bed covers as our tent

I begin with.....

 

what it would be like

to actually meet a fairy?

  Not the fake ones in the stores

but a real live fairy !

 

Together,

we explore how we could make this happen.

 

She somehow knows

they live in the woodlands

and I begin to see

this magical world through her eyes

 

We must wait for a full moon 

for fairies gather and celebrate during this time.

 

We cannot be shy

and we cannot hide.

 

We agree to be brave in the dark.

 

 We must also be quiet,

and listen for their light, clear, tinkle music

  in the woods behind the house,

and past the swing.

 

She knows they live here,

and speaks softly of the path

leading up to their house.

 

I describe what I feel

is a perfectly wonderful fairy house

 

NOT, she says firmly. 

      Don't I know they live only at the bottom

of towering trees.

 

Do they decorate with a mushroom table and seats,

I ask?

 

She shrugs, unsure,

but admits,

"a mushroom would be a soft place to sleep."

I suggest pink boots would be pretty and warm

when the dew forms on the grass

or fancy dancing shoes

for those "full moon"parties...

 

She reminds me

REAL fairies only use things from the woods

 

Well then, I say,

Let's imagine how they could use a leaf for a chair.

Of course, their food must be all natural

 

and their water pure and crystal clear.

 

She agrees wholeheartedly 

and then names the animals of the forest

as their friends.

 

who help them stay warm through the cold winters

I get caught up in the magic

and this world becomes real for me, too.

Suddenly we're both excited about what we describe

and how wonderful it would be

to witness the fairies dancing around us. 

 

 

Or to watch as they do their work......

 

or create some mischief.......

for even fairies can get "timeout".

 

We both wonder if we could catch one

 

After all,

isn't that what the fairy jars are for?.........

 She falls asleep,

and dreams of having her own fairy friend

to play with.

 

Our story expands with each retelling

throughout the summer months,

 and I realize..

 I help her forage

for acorns, twigs, pine cones, and moss

 

I watch as she climbs to scout out the area

and I encourage her to build a fairy house

in her own backyard.

 

We talk of setting up lanterns

to help them find their way.

 

We hope to find some fairy dust,

they must sell it somewhere.... 

I whisper about the best way 

to sprinkle it on her hands.

 

And she whispers back

that I must help her send it toward the woods.

She hugs me and asks,

"They'll be a sign they've heard our wish?"

and we leave the window open in welcome.

because        

 

 You see, in our stories,

the fairy always makes her way to us.

  We wouldn't have it

any other way.

Ella Soleil, this one's for you.

I love you,

 and treasure all our imaginings.

Happy Birthday !