Wonder and Excitement:: Sunday Citar

Our gift so far this weekend has been wrapped in the glorious art of nothingness. Something we’re always happy to practice, given the chance. The present of a few hours to unwind and let our imaginations weave their colorful ribbons through our minds until we end up spending half of the day chasing wet little feet as they pitter patter through the lanai and fall overboard into the deep blue sea, a.k.a., our pool.

I remember when weekends were always a shmorgasboard of imaginative play. Every day really. And that’s something I love about having children, the daily reminder of allowing whimsy and creativity to rule the day. It’s license to see fantasy in the little everyday things.

“A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood.” ~Rachel Carson

This past week, along with seeing Shamu, riding rollercoasters and watching Cirque du Soleil style dolphins shows complete with acrobats and tropical birds, my kids and I whispered our excitement through toothy smiles and pet these sweet mammals. If it weren’t for the fact that I had each kid propped on my leg to lean over the edge so their hand could reach to put a slimy fish in our new friends’ mouths before reaching a little further to rub under their chin, I would have felt about as big as my own little ones. I talked in a high pitched voice and wanted to touch each one. I laughed and giggled and skipped my way out when it was time for the next group to come in a play with our new friends. It was beautiful. It was a child-like excitement and it was perfect.