Reclaim the Wonder

McWane Science Center, Birmingham AL 2014

"When we start off in life, we look at reality with wonder, but it isn't the intelligent wonder of the mystics; it's the formless wonder of the child. Then wonder dies and is replaced by boredom, as we develop language and words and concepts. Then hopefully, if we're lucky, we'll return to wonder again." --Anthony De Mello, Awareness

We've just come off a most adventurous road trip, hubby and I, in which we traveled 500 miles with granddaughter #1 (almost six) and grandson #2 (3 years old) to visit grandson #1, who celebrated his fourth birthday while we were there. What a trip. What a hoot!

We didn't know if we were up to it, taking two little ones on a 9-hour car ride. But you know what (one of Adrian's favorite sayings, btw)? We not only survived, but we had a great time.

The best, of course, was visiting our son and his family and the opportunity for the cousins to once again play together. An extra bonus included a trip to the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. As the photo shows, the aquarium was a big draw. You should have seen--and touched--the big stingray in the pool!

One evening we also joined in on a neighborhood get-together where there were hotdogs, popcorn, water balloons and water slides--and a small nearby stream filled with tadpoles. Have you ever tried to catch a tadpole? They are very elusive to little hands.

Let's not forget the birthday celebration itself--all decked out in a Spiderman-themed cake awesomely decorated by our daughter-in-law (and birthday boy's mother), Suzan. She also led the children in beautiful renditions of songs from the soundtrack of Frozen ( a big movie hit, I understand, of the six-year old crowd) especially "Let It Go." Then there were Legos, the movie Cars, and, oh, a new skill: texting. Quite fascinating to our young reader--and entertaining. Mommy and Daddy were given regular updates as to where we were on the road.

We started out wondering if we could physically make this trip. After all, we still had to drive 500 miles back. We came back wondering about what we would have missed if we hadn't. Mostly it was seeing what we often take for granted through the eyes of the children and recapturing a bit of the sense of wonder ourselves.

I hope I can translate more of a sense of wonder in writing. For me, the best forum for such an exercise--and writing prompt--is trying my hand at poetry. What about you, what piques your sense of wonder? Is an awareness of magical, unusual, amazing, unexpected and downright captivating surprises still strong for you or do you find the feeling lacking? Any tips on how to reignite wonder in writing--and life in general?

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And Then the Battery Died

We went to the circus last night. Thanks for the tickets, Melissa. Sorry you couldn't go, but then you're writing your own story there in Mexico!

The circus is a regular event for Bill and me; we try to go almost every year. We love it for the pulsating lights, energy, and pageantry. The sparkles, exotic animals, and thrills never cease to amaze us. And we couldn't have gone with a more fun couple than Jack and Eula.  Eula--a mother and grandmother, too--was like a child herself as she oohed and ahhed over everything. She even covered her eyes during nail-biting performances--like when the lion tamer seemed oblivious to the wild animal perched right behind him. She said just watching his act made her blood pressure rise.

I took my camera, thinking I'd get at least one good shot during the evening. A spellbinding one, I hoped, to encapsulate a tiny degree of the excitement. The lighting was poor so I played around with one setting after another. In total, I snapped maybe a half-dozen pictures. And then the battery died.

Aw, shoot (no pun intended).

After returning home, and replacing the battery, I scrolled through to see what images I did get. The last photo captured? This one, of human cannonballs being shot through the air! A split-second snap and an image is frozen in time--but still I think of the ones I "might" have gotten.

So, what did I learn from my night at the circus--and how might I turn it all to writing?

• Always carry an extra battery! Or, as the case may be, a notepad or journal to capture fleeting inspirations and writing thoughts.
• Shoot for the stars--and keep submitting. We never know when we'll hit the mark. But when we do, lights pulsate and hearts sparkle.
• Enjoy friends--and welcome them when they propel themselves into the next picture, scene, or story.
• LIfe's best moments come when we laugh. So let's not take ourselves--or our work--too seriously.
• Ask questions. Stay curious. (Where did that clown go after vanishing into thin air in that wagon?)
• Keep the sense of wonder alive, for wonder lights up the world.

A night at the circus awakens the kid in all of us, and is a fantastic antidote to stirring imagination, creativity, and renewed energy.
 
Now if I can only translate all of it into this keyboard.