Emily Hoffman

    Over the last week I did an informal, unscientific, totally unreliable survey by asking one question to the adults and a few children that crossed my path. The question? "Do you believe in Santa Claus?"
     There were the grown-up adults that answered, "No" rather quickly and failed to look me in the eye. There were some that answered "No," then revised their answer to "Maybe. But what do you mean 'Do I believe in Santa Claus?'" Then one, to my delight, that answered "Yes."
     I felt it unfortunate that a few of the children didn't believe, answering me with eye rolling and huffing disbelief that I'd even ask that question.
     I remember as a child I watched the play, Peter Pan. I don't remember where, or when, I just remember Peter flying across the stage. I remember Tinkerbelle; my wide eyes worked to follow her twinkle across the stage as she moved to and fro with quickness. And I certainly remember Wendy, who I truly aspired to become.
     One of the best parts of Peter Pan is when Tink is fading and the audience is asked to give her life by believing in her. I believed with all my heart in fairies. So I not only said, "I believe in fairies," at the correct time in the play, I shouted it, and kept shouting a bit after Tink regained her strength.
     This very behavior caused my children slink into their seats at the Chateau last year when the movie, Peter Pan, came across its silver screen. I again found myself helping Tink regain her life by saying, "I believe." And I do.
     I ask you adults, and you children too young to be skeptics, where would we be without the magic of fairies, the hope of Santa, or the wonder of the unknown? The world we inhabit is rife with war, sickness, heartache, sorrow, disappointment, murder, and hopelessness. We need a bit of magic.
     We need the magic of the unexpected that tumbles into our lives and brings us joy. The knowledge serendipity still happens in our day-to-day lives as we are gifted with surprising friendships and heartwarming love. That the pot of good news we need to lift our heavy heart will spill out at just the right moment.
     Fairies, Santa, the Easter Bunny-all of those wonderful creatures still live. They live in the wishes and dreams of 10,000 innocent children, and in the wonder of a few adults still young enough to believe.
    
    Emily Hoffman is a staff writer at the Breeze and would like to thank her fairy godmother for the wonderful, unexpected joy that's entered her life. She can be reached at emily@emilyallenhoffman.com