My Own Fairyland

When I was a child one of my favorite Disney movies to watch over and over was Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The biggest thrill for me was when she opened that magical carpetbag and started pulling items out, one after another that should not possibly have fit within. Every single time I watched the movie I held my breath in anticipation of that scene more than any other, even when I watched the movie with my own small children and, later, grandchild. For me, that beautiful bag was full of magic; I knew I must someday have a Mary Poppins bag of my very own.

So, imagine my absolute delight when my lifelong search culminated in a dream come true and I discovered Max Carpetbag Works on Etsy recently. I took time to scroll through all the fantastic options for just the right one; believing it would reveal itself to me because it had been waiting a lifetime to do so. The moment I found this incredible bag my heart jumped for joy as I'm certain I heard it say, "Finally, you found me!". Isn't that part of the allure for all of us who are irrepressibly drawn to the timeless charm of a carpetbag? There's a hidden part in us convinced they contain practically perfect magical moments deep inside. 

When this long awaited treasure arrived on Saturday I could barely contain myself. I knew from the first glimpse and brush of my hand, as I began to pull away the wrapping, that my carpetbag had found its way home. As I lovingly perused it I experienced an emotional rush of memories. I was a little girl with blonde pigtails on my grandparents farm, watching Mary Poppins with my cousins, wearing baby-doll pajamas. Suddenly, I became a young mother with two little girls, one with blonde pigtails, the other with auburn, staring with rapt attention at Mary Poppins, while I waited beside them for that scene I never tired of. All those years later, my own children were just as thrilled as me by the never-ending stream of magic Mary's bag produced. Finally, my heart warmed at the memory of a tiny granddaughter, with springy brown curls and delight in her eyes as she watched my favorite scene with me for the first time. 

This carpetbag has lured me back into my own fairyland. All I had to do was open it, reach in, and start pulling the memories out one by one. Although it just found its way to me, it has the sense of having always been mine. I believe it's packed full of more magical moments waiting to reveal themselves to me every time I open it. I also feel strongly about surrounding myself with things of beauty that make me happy. If those things are functional, well-made, and stand the chance of serving the purpose for which they were intended for many years then the purchase is a wise one. 

                  "Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?" 

                                               Mary Poppins - P. L. Travers