Neverland!

At 30, I never thought I would . . .. . .still have this desire to run wild at a playground and swing and see-saw as high as I can
. . .still have the same glee in eating ice cream, lollipop, cotton candy and chocnut as when I was 8 or 9
. . .still be able to relate to the cartoon characters in Nickelodeon, which I tune in to during the wee hours of the night when sleep escapes me
. . .still get as much mental stimulation from talking to a 4-year-old child as from a 50-year-old erudite.
. . .still get the urge to run/sing/jump while laughing/crying my heart out whenever I feel happy, sad, lonely or just plain silly
. . .still find joy in coloring a jumbo coloring book
. . .still own a piggy bank
. . .still have the time to stare at my pet fish as he lazily swims in his pink aquarium
. . .still be awed at every sunset, sunrise, rainbow or full moon that I am privileged to witness
. . .still have the need to send my wishes and prayers on the tails of shooting stars
. . .still want to go back one more time to Disneyland before having my own kids
. . .still find it hard to stifle a smile when I am alone in a public place and a happy memory enters my mind
. . .still want to blow bubbles on a fine day
. . .still blush when an important person pays me a compliment
. . .still sing Disney tunes with much gusto and conviction
. . .still desperately seek the approval of my parents and want to make them proud of me
. . .still wish I’d become a 5 & UP reporter (Here’s to us, Agay!)
. . .still want to startle people by hiding at a dark corner and shouting, “Boo!”
. . .still get a rush while buying gifts and getting lost in a toy shop (Yey! Toy Kingdom!)
. . .still find Elmo and Cookie Monster so cute
. . .still buy a box of cereal to get the free toy (You can’t blame me. It’s an Incredibles memorabilia.)
. . .still actually own a Supergirl t-shirt and cape
. . .still look out for a firefly on a moonless night
. . .still wish someone would throw me a surprise birthday party
. . .still want to step on and tickle every wild mimosa that I find on the ground
. . .still be thrilled at getting my articles and pictures published
. . .still dream of making this world a little better through my life
. . .still believe that true love will find me at this day and ageI bet I’ll have the same realizations at 60. Here’s to growing up but never growing old. . . .

–by Jennifer Yap Caspe
Written Feb. 16, 2005, 9 PM