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Go Nigel, Go!
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Would You Like To Buy My Monkeys?
Dec
27
The Best Part Of Christmas
by Leslie
When I was a little girl, I loved Puff, the Magic Dragon. It was the second song on a children’s LP record album I owned; I nearly wore a groove in the vinyl from playing it so often.
It was no coincidence that my first pet was a cat called Puff.
That song took up residence in my young heart - somewhere deep inside, and a little to the left.
This year for Christmas, I passed this treasure from my childhood on to Julia through this lovely picture book endorsed by the original singer/songwriter Peter Yarrow and co-composer Lenny Lipton.
When she unwrapped it on Christmas morning, we immediately gave it a swift read through.
Later, when things quieted down, we snuggled on the couch together to look at it again. We put on the accompanying CD and read along with the music. Julia was drawn right in and didn’t notice the tears I was wiping away when “Jackie Paper came no more.”
Once the song ended, we read it again. This time, we took notice of the subtle characters on each page - rocks with friendly faces, smiling flowers and happy trees. And then, when the song began to play, this time an instrumental version, Julia was adamant that I sing the words as we flipped through the book one more time.
So, I began.
Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea,
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.
So far, so good. I continued.
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.
And on I went, until that verse. You know the one.
A dragon lives forever, but not so little girls and boys.
Painted wings and giants’ rings make way for other toys.
One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more,
And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain.
And so did my tears. Like a rainstorm. Or maybe a hurricane.
Julia asked me why I was crying, and I explained that it made me sad when Jackie Paper gets too grown up to play with Puff anymore. We lingered on that page, where Jackie Paper is walking off as Puff looks longingly after him.
Julia said softly, “He doesn’t have to grow up if he doesn’t want to.” And I could remember how I would hug my cat and tell him, “I’ll never grow up,” when this part of the song would play.
And then Julia slowly turned the pages of the book - that lovely, perfect book - to an image of a little girl, coming to play with Puff while a grown up Jackie Paper peeks around the corner. Her eyes lit up and she told me, “Look, Mom! A girl comes to play with Puff. Look! He makes a new friend. See? It isn’t sad.”
I tried to compose myself and said, “You’re right, I guess it isn’t. He does make a new friend.” Trying to divert her attention away from my silly sobbing I asked, “What do you think her name is?”
“Maybe it’s Julia.”
“Absolutely. It is.”
Comments
18 Cool Kids Came To Play
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I Write A Haiku Each Day
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Hurts So Good
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Categories
- Daily Haiku
- Mommy’s Stuff
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You Should Do This
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Ooooooh. Aaaaah.
Leslie, I don’t think I can read that one to my kids — I used to cry when I was little. It’s so sad — I need to go cry now!
You wouldn’t believe it but I bought that exact book for Amy this Christmas.
I had never heard it on tape or LP but my Dad used to play it for me on his guitar and sing. He played it for Amy the other day and I got all teary.
It’s a lovely book and I’m glad we can share it with our children.
oh wow, what a story…. now look at what you’ve done ! You’ve made me cry. I love that story too. I didn’t know about that book. I would have bought it for my sister and she’s 53 !! We’re all just children at heart. Thanks for the memories and the cry. (((HUGS)))
Jan
I also bought that book for Ava. One time, when I was a little girl I had to skip Sunday School by telling my mom I had a stomach ache (I NEVER lied to my parents) because I was crying because I had just seen a rendition of Puff the Magic Dragon on television. I didn’t want to tell them the real reason I was crying. I was thrilled when I saw that the book added a new friend for Puff. I like to think of it as my son passing along Puff to Ava.
WHERE HAVE I BEEN? I remember listening to the song when I was little, but I didn’t know there was a BOOK! Now I’ve got to get that so I can cry too!
What a great thing to share with Julia. I love how kids find the positive in everything!
I didn’t know there was a book either!
Must go & buy.
BTW…..your daughter is a beautiful soul that shines all the way through blogland.
What a beautiful story, Leslie! The Giving Tree is the other one that makes me just sob…
Precious. The one that made me sad as a kid was Winnie the Pooh, when Tigger ran away because everyone was irritated with his bouncing, and he got lost in the woods… feeling like he didn’t have a friend in the world. I always had to follow that book with “The Monster at the End of This Book”… that one cheered me right back up.
Oh, the book sounds just incredible! That is one of the top hits around this house too. It’s a great trans-generational song.
My husband plays this for the kids all the time, and when she was much younger (as in Julia’s age) Emma used to dance in the living room while he sang. Oh, wow, now you’ve got me crying all over again.
Lovely post.
Aw! Sad and heartwarming all wrapped up into one! Funny the things we’ve been able to pass on to our kids. My Mom’s generation didn’t pass on many books, movies…much of anything like that. Recipes are pretty much the only thing passed on from the elders in my family. But, I played with things that my daughter plays with now. Makes me feel like a kid again sometimes.
First of all, you are a bad friend for making me CRY!!!! (just kidding about the being a bad friend part). But that was deep and so so so meaningful! And SWEET!
Secondly, I owe you a huge apology for being so remiss about reading your blog. I’ve been, well you know, busy and all but still! I’ve missed a lot. Like the furnace and the presents and the part where you mention me in your list of favorite blogs. My head is spinning and frankly, I won’t need to apply blush for a few days. Thank you Leslie!!! Like, a real blogger likes ME! Thank you, thank you.
I’m toying with all kinds of great ideas for my May contribution and I think I’ve hit on the perfect subject so I’ll do an outline and submit it. Er, soon. And by soon, I mean after my NYE party and the hangover part and the recovery part. K?
Here’s to women in 2008!!!
That’s a beautiful story. I love that song too.
*sniff*
That song gets me every time.
Beautiful post.
“Maybe it’s Julia.” ….. beautiful, just beautiful.
Oh my, what a wonderful post. I’m not so sure I can handle reading the book to my kiddos, though.
*sniff*
You just brought back fond memories again for me. I used to hear that when I was little..time really flies.
From the mouths of babes…