Monday, September 19, 2005

My Moon to Neverland

The moon is wearing a halo tonight. The moon’s so large, so round, so bright. It has to be my backyard moon, the one that lit the way to Neverland. I swear this moon came from the sky when I was a kid—a big moon, because the sky’s so big. Have you thought how big the sky is? It’s even bigger to a kid. It’s the place where dreams begin.

My arms firmly on my windowsill. My eyes still and staring up at the moon. My heart would lift and then my mind, and I’d be off like the Darling kids to places yet uncharted. Up into the blue black night with stars around like Christmas lights, and nothing cold, no fear of flying with moonlight there to guide me. My moon took me to Neverland, a place of magic, a place where stories always ended right. Adventures happened endlessly, but stopped the second that you wanted.

My Neverland was filled with magic girls and boys like Peter Pan. But there was no Wendy or jealous Tinkerbell to be seen. Everyone was busy taming lions, tightrope walking, and living out daring dreams. We had no time for pouting fairies or too much mothering.

I found my Neverland bigger than the one the story tells of. It wasn’t just for children. It had lots of favored grown-ups. King Arthur had a castle there. He and Merlin cheered brave Queen Guinevere when she rode off with the Knights. Snow White came by with the Dwarfs to retell her life story, and on other nights Einstein came to talk about his theories. On nights I needed action, I took down dragons with Merlin’s magic sword. On quieter nights, Cinderella and the Prince would dance in all their glory.

Everyone I love was there in my Neverland inside all the magic that I ever knew. I could go there any time I looked up at the moon. I had good reason to know the moon could do this magic thing.

My father hung my backyard moon especially for me.
—me strauss Letting me be

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I went on vacation over Labor Day and saw the moon in a way that it's not generally possible to see it in the city - gorgeous. In any case, your childhood Neverland sounds like a great place to visit...

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Gosh Sandra,
That must have been great to see the moon over Labor Day.

Yeah, thanks, it was a nice place to visit tonight too.

smiles,
Liz

Anonymous said...

Your neverland sounds wonderful. I wish I had a place like that growing up.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hey Mojo,
Thanks. You write so well. I can't believe you didn't.

It was all in the sky and all in my head.

smiles,
Liz

Anonymous said...

I would have LOVED your neverland. I used to dance with the Princes (from Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty). I used to call myself a Princess.

Good I miss my childhood daydreams :)

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Jennifer,
You're welcome to go there whenever you see a full moon.

It's just fun to have an imagination. In our neighborhood, you couldn't survive for a few seconds without one. Life would have been too confusing to figure out I'm sure.

smiles,
Liz

Anonymous said...

The moon is my home. I wake up when I see it. Never never becomes ever ever land and I fly over the city, across the fields, into the mountains to soar with eagles where the silence is noble and the spirits are my friends. Then the alarm went off and I had to go to scool.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Garnet,
What a lovely response.

Yeah that school sure knew how to get in the way of really important things.

smiles,
Liz

Anonymous said...

Lovely. :-)

(D'you think that means Boyzilla came fron Neverland?)

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Cheryl,
Thank you.

Now that you mention it. I'm sure that she was there. I think we wrestled a couple of Cyclops together.

smiles,
me

Anonymous said...

I have goosebumps. :0)

Such a sweet article!

I always loved the moon because no matter how many times or how far away I moved, it was still there. My loyal friend.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Thanks Tanda,
That is one of the best things about the moon. It's seen everywhere around the world and all through history.

Anonymous said...

For me it's the stars, too, and northern lights and meteor showers -- all things celestial.

I wasn't at all surprised to find your dad the giver of the gift. Mine, too.

Lovely post, Liz.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Ah Zilla,
Thank you.
So that's the connection--the sky, the insanity, and the fact that your father and my father were in conspiracy.
Not a bad way to be connected I think.
smiles,
Liz