Try some? Now?
It was my 10th birthday. A landmark event. Big time! Finally, I mean, finally (!!) I’d hit two digits, age-wise. Wow! Double-digits! I still recall the amazement of being 10 years old and the sense of my life unfolding in front of me. It felt incredibly epic to my, newly-minted, 10 year old mind. Two digits! Imagine that!
But there was still Peter Pan. I never, ever, wanted to outgrow Peter Pan.
I was afflicted with an intensely, serious, case of Peter Pan-itis. For those 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 (constantly) sang all the songs from the hit Broadway musical, Peter Pan. Granted, I was always out of tune, but the joy of imagined flying outweighed any self-embarrassment I may have suffered from my singing incapacity.
“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, isn’t it? I lived and breathed Peter Pan. 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.) When jumping off the roof wasn’t an option (my mother was likely at home), we ran, headlong, through our respective houses, pretend-flying, singing with gusto, songs like “I Won’t Grow Up” from the Peter Pan Broadway album.
Admittedly, I grew up. Life seems to happen that way. However, I continue to hold heart-space for that very alive Peter Pan-like child who revels in imagined flying. Not actual flying, but taking flight with unbridled joy, curiosity, and seeing life with awe through the wonder-filled eyes of a child.
Oh sure, I feel embarrassed, occasionally, when my oh-so expressive little one surfaces, and eyes and ears beside my own, see or hear her. (Wait, we thought you were a grownup? You aren’t?) Whatever. My inner Peter Pan-loving sprite contributes sparks of sheer aliveness, and a puck-ish sense of humor, to this being human thing. Wonderment is a gift that just keeps right on giving.
Try some? Now?
One of my favorite TV Movie’s with Mary Martin as Peter. Came out in 1960. I was 8 years old. I think it was the first time I realized that TV was make believe because “Peter” was actually a woman playing a boy. It didn’t bother me, I was enthralled by the music and her performance.
Thanks for the throwback memory. 🫶🏻☮️
YES… a sense of child like wonder!