Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins was a mysteriously appearing nanny, who transformed a stuffy British family into one bursting with love for each other. She had a magical carpetbag, a talking umbrella, colorful friends, and a knack for play. Now, I am not so mysterious. I travel by car, not by umbrella. My carpetbag is a rolling suitcase, filled with normal things like knitting and blue jeans. My friends are colorful indeed, but not necessarily prone to dancing on rooftops. What we share is a knack for play, and the ability to burst with love. That translates into hours of pushing a stroller up and down the Mall in Washington DC, or just down the street. Playing with stickers, eating Tootsie Roll pops, retying shoes over and over, quieting a restless infant, making peanut butter toast. It includes talking through life's challenges with a tired daughter, buying them dinner, a swiffer, giving them room to settle into a new house. Mary Poppins was unique, in that she always planned to leave. She was not interested in her own needs as much as she was for those she came to serve. That is the joy of love, not requiring anything in return, but being blessed all the same. A baby's smile, a call to "sleep with me Nana", a peaceful close knit family, a plane ride home.