Peter Pan and me, or is it Peter Pan and I? Whatever…

Celebrating my 10th birthday (well, a few years back, anyway.) A landmark event. I’d finally hit two digits, age-wise. Wow! Double-digits! (Can you believe it??) I still recall the amazement of being 10 years old and a sense of my life unfolding in front of me. A panorama of feelings. I vowed to remember that special day and the energy and wonder it contained.

Present Day. Let’s face it, I’m considerably older than 10 now. (Big-time.) Trying to share the power of that many-years ago day, and I can no longer recall, specifically, what I wanted to memorialize in my memory. Only crossing the threshold into the double-digit age range. But there was so much more and it’s - gone. (Betting you’ve been there.) Oy! Becoming a grownup? Remembering being a child? What?

And to add yet another layer to this growth journey, I was also afflicted with Peter Pan-itis, a serious case. For those of you who’ve lived without Peter Pan all these many years (are you from Mars, or something?), Peter could fly and lived in NeverLand where children NEVER grew up. I, who cannot carry a tune, knew and sang all the songs (constantly) from the hit Broadway musical, Peter Pan.

“But, Peter, how do we get to Never Land?

Fly, of course!

Fly!

Every dream that you dream will come true.”

Hard to beat that kind of invitation.

I lived Peter Pan. Truly. Neighborhood kids and I imitated Peter Pan’s flying by jumping off the roof. (Thank heavens, my mother worked during the day and couldn’t see us taking faux flight. Whew!) When jumping off the roof wasn’t an option (my mother was likely at home), we ran, headlong, through our respective houses, pretend flying, and singing with gusto, songs like “I won’t grow up” from the Peter Pan Broadway album.

So, yes, to answer your unspoken question, I did grow up (mostly.) But I continue to hold heart-space for that very alive Peter Pan-like child who can revel in flying. No, not actual flying, but taking flight with unbridled joy, laughter, curiosity, and seeing life with awe through the uncensored eyes of a child. Sometimes I feel embarrassed when that very expressive little one surfaces for other eyes to see. Then I gladly realize that the child within me who has never grown up contributes to making me whole with (thank heavens!) a puck-ish sense of humor. Levity (with heart) to lighten life’s load.

So “yay” for having double digits to my age, even now, and “yay” for my residual Peter Pan, still taking flight inside and filling me with wonder.

❤️Hey, I’d love to ask a favor of you. If your heart and funny-bone are nurtured by This Being Human Thing, please share with others. Thanks so much!