Around the time my son was three years old, a funny thing happened. Okay, funny things happen all the time in our house because we thrive on laughter (and coffee) but this one came to mind when I saw this week's Finish the Sentence Friday prompt (If I were a fairy tale creature..." Thanks Julie!)
So he was out on a walk after counting the nanoseconds of the two hours before his Daddy came home... I mean, you have to be superhuman to teach a toddler patience when they want someone/something and this little boy wanted his Daddy ... NOW. Between my Mom and me, we managed to keep him engaged and after a hurried coffee on returning home, his Daddy took him out. Bliss!
As it happened, Daddy's footwear strap snapped while they were out and he was looking for a cobbler. Yeah, we have them in most corners. But my son, who is probably my biggest fan, instantly reassured his Daddy that he needn't worry, that Mummy would fix it. Mummy can fix everything. Really.
Even today, I can picture his sweet expression when he recounted what happened when they returned home. My Mom loved to make him repeat these things n times and, each time, laughed as much as she did the first time!
Of course we regaled him with fairy tales all the time and he always thought that if I were a fairy tale creature, I'd be the good ol' fairy godmother from Cinderella who made everything okay, sad people happy, good things better and so on and so forth. Simply because I always seemed to have the answers, in his trusting mind.
The truth is, I am good at improvising, probably thanks to growing up in a frugal family that firmly believed in "Waste not, want not". Oh, my angels - my Mom and Granma - were generous to a fault with whatever they had, but strict with themselves. I seem to have sneakily inherited that trait.
So, If I were a fairy tale creature...
I'd love to be fairy godmother for realz. Give me that magic wand already - and I'll cruise around, granting wishes. (Yes, Kristi - I am totally with you on the teleportation - best way to travel, ever. I just wish I didn't have a vision of Jeff Goldblum crouching in that chamber with a fly when I think of the word, though! Okay, just sprinkled some fairy dust and replaced an image of him in a hot tub playing the piano (go look!)
I have a long list of things for my magic wand, all sorts of good things, just like my son believes.
Here's my personal Unicorn. She has magnetic feet that keep her grounded. I'd love to have hair like that! (If you disagree about this being a Unicorn, you are free to do so. My son thinks it is one and that's final!)
In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to ask my friends this question - "If I were a fairy tale creature, who would I be?" A bit risky, I knew, but what the heck - these were honest people who wouldn't hesitate to tell it like it is. Also, I love them. I emailed a bunch of these lovelies.
And here are the answers extracted from close to 40 emails. I won't say who said what but this is what I got:
Fairy God Mother, the one you fixes up Cinderella (does she have a hotline to my son?)
- A super cute unicorn.
- The Good witch of the east.
- A unicorn, because you're impossibly cute.
- Unicorn, obviously!
- Hmm.... unicorn!
...and so on. 15 votes for Unicorn. Am I blessed or am I blessed? Thank you guys. And because I had a captive audience, I also asked them to list 3 things they loved about me and three things they didn't. Very very gratifying and also, entertaining!
Incidentally, I took this test online just for fun and my answers showed me .... you guessed it .... I am a Unicorn.
So it is official!
I am going to try my hardest-est to live up to my reputation now.
And just for the record, I'd also like to be that fairy my Grandmother always warned me about. My Granma told me that each one of us has a guardian angel who perches on our shoulder and listens to our thoughts. Her goal/job is to make all our good thoughts come true. So, moral of the story? Always think good thoughts, as much as possible. I actually believed it. Then became a non-believer at some point. But in the last decade or so, have started believing again, thanks to my son.
So there it is folks!
For the nth time, here's my favorite poem, because it ties in with this post - I just love it!
ABOU BEN ADHEM
by Leigh HuntAbou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An Angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!
- James Leigh Hunt
What fairy tale creature would you be?
♥
Please join us for Finish the Sentence Friday, where writers gather to finish the same sentence prompt. This week's sentence is "If I were a fairy tale creature..."
I have the privilege of co-hosting with the fabulous Kristi ( Finding Ninee) and Julie ( Velvet Rose) - Julie came up with this fun prompt!
