Magic
Most of you are familiar with my nephews here in Iceland. And partial as this might sound, they are amazing. Each so very different from the other. The smallest one is Gretar. He is four and a few days ago when I was babysitting the little tornadoes, he was eyeing me from afar as I was making dinner. He kept looking at me and I could tell something was going on with him. When I noticed, my mind started racing and my thought process was along the lines of "Oh my God, what´s he done now?"
I turned around, drying towel in one hand, bracing myself for the bad news I was about to receive, reminding myself to hold on to sanity, when I slowly asked him: "If there´s anything you want to tell me, Gretar...now would be a good time!"
He looked at me and shaked his head and slowly walked out of the kitchen. I went after him, got him ready for bed and as he was lying there he kept starring at me. I told him it was ok to tell me; if he smashed something or lost another pair of boots somewhere outside...it was ok.
He pulled my head closer to his and said: "I want to tell you a secret- just between us." I promised and he said: "Monika, there is magic in our garden outside." Puzzled I looked at him, pondering everything from too many Harry Potter viewings, to delusion all the way to what the heck did I put in tonight´s dinner. When he noticed my perplexity he elaborated: "You remember when we put those onions down a long time ago? They turned into flowers. Onions turn into flowers in our garden!"
He had such a glee on his face...Gretar doesn´t like onions -the type you eat- he loves flowers and magic, so it was a double win for him. Poor chap thought that the bulbs we put into the earth in the Spring (looking like onions to him!) would turn into those bitter things that make one cry.
I hugged him and thanked him for letting me in on this, I also decided that this would be a good moment to introduce him to the concept of fairies and elves. He fell asleep with his glee fully intact.
Labels: family
22 Comments:
That was a wonderful story. Gretar sounds so innocent, I hope you broke the news that fairies and elves exist gently.
Magic does exist. We just saw a bit of it between aunt and nephew.
Awwww....aren't nephews magical?
That story was just magical, you got me smiling on a Monday morning, even with all the cleaning, washing and ironing that awaits me. Hey, and next year you could plant these kind of onions.
Doug, well I left out the leprecons for now. Little mischievous, funny-eared pixies! besides I figured, any kid that makes it through the story of the 13 Icelandic Santas, pretty much is ready for anything :)
Quilly, I have a wand ;)
Jenna, yes they are...without a wand and everything!
Theresa, glad this cheered you up, that little incident is one of my greatest moments last week. Good luck with the house duties. I have them too :)
Great story! The innocence of kids is glorious. My little one was writing in her notebook the other day and asked for privacy. I asked her why and she said because she's writing in her diar(y)reah. You just can't make this stuff up.
Btw, good to know the queen of everything has a magic wand to go along with her tiarra. ;)
Many, many cute moments at that age, Minka, thanks for sharing this one. Great post.
And keep all the photos and memories for when Gretar turns 13. You're young enough to remember what teenagers can be like, right?
So very very sweet. It is good to keep the magic for as long as possible.
That's a great story! I love magical thinking.
Minka, what a wonderful memory to keep in your heart. Do you keep a memory book with their sweet and often funny utterings? From age one and a half to twelve I wrote down all the hysterical things Morgan said. For example: a) when joining the Cubs (scouts) at 6, he said, "Cubs is just like the army, but they are the unarmed forces." and b) when he came in from playing I told him he smelled like all outdoors, and he said, "Aren't I just the cutest little stinker you know?".......Judy
Great blog!! I will be back for more!!
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yay for Gretar! how happy he mus t have been that the garden is not going to be full of onion but there are pretty flowers everywhere. AND fairies and elves. who can ask for more? :)
okay -- that's just about the cutest thing i've heard in a long time. goes right up there with Gina's "Mom, you're sophisticated and funny" story, in the all-time-cute-kid story tellin' story book! well done, Auntie Minka -- some day you will make someone a wonderful... mommy! ; )
and, J.D. that's pretty damn, cute, too! it's a shame our "little stinkers" turn into such big goofs when they get older, isn't it? not that i really mind -- my sons drive me crazy, but i wouldn't trade 'em for anything. uh, anything except, maybe, Monika's nephew, that is... ; ) xox
Sar, some people don´t believe in royality at firts sight, so a wand that says You comply or I´ll turn you green goes a long way! ;)
Al, i got that angle covered. Bathtub pictures and thumb sucking impressions from the days of yore. I am ready for those hormones :)
goldennib, they have a childish 29 year old aunt. They have a good shot at magic for life :)
EM, welcome and if irrational thought processes tempt you, feel free to come back ;)
J.D...bet you anything he´ll just love you for sharing this here. I can so picture him syaing that. Feel free to share embarrassing childhood Morgan snap shots any day :)
mike m...here´s ten bucks saying "We´ll see!" :)
ariel, indeed. Some kids have it all. This one appreciates it with an innocence that makes childhood desirable.
neva, you don´t have to exchange any of those two for me, you got me free of charge...bugger, huh?!
and thank you...I have a feeling I will do alright!
Well I would say Gretar will do just fine. He sounds well in tune with the good parts of life.
I can relate to his apparent disposition. From an early age I was most comfortable strolling through my own world of plants and flowers. I was lucky to grow up around a plant nursery / farm. There is true delight in what springs from earth.
For some reason, your post reminds me of a bit of wisdom I always return to:
"What lasts is what you start with" - Charles Wright
That is just wonderful. Really, I loved this story and what was going on in little Gretar's mind all this time with the flowers and the "onions".
Tali would be most happy to share her fairy books with him. Ah the world through their eyes - anything seems possible.
Old Mule, I love that saying...I haven´t heard it before. Thank you! Gretar lives on a farm and on many occasions upon waking up when babysitting him, he came in from the outside in his PJs and rubber boots, because he knew the dog wanted to walk with him. He certainly is in tune!
G, the world through their eyes, we get to live it with them, if we listen and remember. He´s not much of a reader this one, outdoorsy type really...but I do read Harry Potter to him a lot!
God Verdomme, I was going to post, but I don't feel safe here any more.
How do you "block" people from viewing your blog?
Mogran, you abit upset that we know a little more about you? Don´t worry...I have about a hundred guests per day...it´s not like teh world is watching. Now, how about those photoes?
I read your story with impatience how it would end .... So nice and cute....., I can imagine very well the situation. I am so much looking forward to seeing the boys soon again ... and of course you, the rest of the "gang" and beautiful Iceland.
My online world is listening to my mom tell random stories from my infancy.
Me? Worried???
heike, we can´t wiat for you either. A lot of painting needs to be done and a certain woman from teh next farm needs to hear how our relationship is progressing ;)
Morgan, as a blogging species, we tend to be curious about fellow bloggers, she´s just supplying teh good stuff :)
My Mom has a blog, if you need payback ;)
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