Married to the Military: Imagine That!
Jan 12 2009
I found the crumbled note with the pressing question on my desk and noticed right away it came from an inquiring seven-year-old mind that happened to be my daughter.
“Is a wishing star the same thing as a falling star?”
I just wasn’t sure and had an immediate flashback to the time she also wanted to know if God ate Chinese food. I didn’t know how to answer that one either — although I was quite sure no one could refuse a good Peking duck with sweet and sour sauce.
One thing is certain. This child, like many military children, clearly has questions in her mind that demand answers and an imagination that could (and hopefully will) positively influence the world at large.
Take her recent school field trip, for instance. I never saw a permission slip or an e-mail about it, but when I picked her up from school, I certainly heard all about it. A plane allegedly landed on the playground, picked up the 23 children from her class, and flew away for the day. The details regarding where they went were sketchy at best, but suffice it to say that a German fest and a really big Ferris wheel were prominently involved. It’s true. All true. She swears by it on her brother’s heart.
And then there was the time at the video store when she was in one aisle and I was inconspicuously on the other. Despite my best parental guidance, she struck up a conversation with a total stranger, fortunately under my watchful eyes.
“I’m getting new parents soon,” she explained patiently to the lady searching the newest releases.
This was news to me and to the slightly amused stranger as well.
After these and countless other episodes stored safely in my heart, I’ve come to the conclusion that my youngest has been granted the gracious gifts of imagination and fearlessness. I can only hope that she doesn’t lose them as she grows up.
Just to be sure, I’ll make a wish on the next falling star.
About the Author: Janet Farley is the author of The Military Spouse’s Complete Guide to Career Success (Impact Publications, 2008) and writes the career advice column JobTalk for the Stars and Stripes newspapers.
Of course Santa eats Chinese food..He has Take-0ut when he goes over China