How many times do we look out our window and watch children play? Before we realize, we start to relive our own childhood and some of the antics we would invent. Often, at that moment, we wonder why we ever had to grow up and face this work-a-day world. It reminds us of Peter Pan – the one boy that never grew up and lived in Neverland. Remember? “Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning.” Think happy thoughts so you will fly. Off they all went with Peter – Wendy, John, and Michael flying towards the second star. What magnificent adventures that awaited them. How wonderful to be able to play with the Lost Boys, Pirates, Indian tribes, Mermaids, and a ticking Crocodile, never having to report to work or pay bills. Oh, what a happy thought. But, alas to Peter, “All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” You remember Tinkerbell? Her beginnings, according to Peter, were, “When the first baby laughed for the first time, it’s laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.” Peter painted such a wonderful world of childhood where one never grew up. But Peter knew that Wendy, John, and Michael would soon leave Neverland, because they chose to grow up. Except for Peter, the rest of us knew that childhood was fun, but eventually we become grown-ups. Even though we become adults, we still treasure those years of adventures and laughter. Remember the ticking crocodile that was always after Captain Hook? That… ticking crocodile… was like time… chasing after all of us. There was a bit of laughter and melancholy in the play by Sir James Matthew Barrie. The 1904 debut of the play “Peter Pan” was a success. Sir Barrie turned the play also into a novel and, in the 1950s, Walt Disney made the story into an animated movie. After 118 years, the story is still popular with young readers and movie fans, alike. It is amazing how timeless this story has become. It teaches everyone that life is wonderful – especially if you enjoy doing what you do best. Yes, we all have ticking crocodiles and eventually time will win, but before that creature catches up to us, we have to appreciate our lives and live them to the fullest. For each new day brings new events and new opportunities, and it is up to us to meet that challenge and get on with this thing called life. But, remember to enjoy every moment, because every moment is a gift. And this life we get to live passes by faster than any of us would like to imagine or admit!
