When a stick is not a stick

It's likely a bit hard to see, however there is a very long and very skinny stick in this photo.  Even before it was picked up off the ground, it was clear it had seen better days; splinters at one end, and some bark missing in several spots.  I'm not sure what value it would normally serve removed from the tree it once belonged to- very spindly, weak, frail and kind of anemic looking.

In the hands of a five-year-old however, this stick found new life.  It started out as a magic wand. Very quickly it was transformed into a sword, protecting the warrior princess from fierce dragons.  Eventually, after an epic battle against the evil queen (that would have been me), victory was a rewarded with a significant amount of gold and jewels.   

So important was this stick to the brief time we had together, that it resides in the back of my car awaiting the next play date- or should I say imagination infused adventure? 

The warrior princess had her very first day of school this week. Not the typical five-year-old, at least in my opinion, this one is sure to bring a whole host of definitive thoughts and bold opinions to her kindergarten class.  She is all at once kind and caring, a bit saucy, and totally outrageous.  At the ripe old age of five she has a firm sense of who she is, clear expectations of just about everyone, and determination and stamina that knows no bounds.  She is captivating, delightful and highly entertaining. 

It's been a crazy couple of months.  Hanging out with this young miss has been both restorative and therapeutic.  There's nothing like channeling your inner child to be reminded of how something as simple as a stick can take you places you really need to go, even as an evil queen. 

It’s the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives. 

Fred Rogers