Besides the occasional fabulous gift received, I have the task of filling her library with what will become memories when I'm not around.
Being a teacher, a book worm and someone who works for opportunity for everyone, I feel it's my obligation (an obligation that I more than enjoy) to find her something empowering rather than feeding her run of the mill fairy tales and fables.
Stories are portraits... no one pointed this out more painfully than Joyce, but the decisions... the what to include and what light to paint everyone in still leave me stunned. I'm not saying that stories shouldn't reflect right and wrong... but where are the ethics? Where are the gray areas? When are kids old enough to read something and be asked to make their own decision on the outcome of it all?
I have this notion of a fairy tale happy ending, but white horses aren't involved. The damsel in distress isn't rescued in the traditional sense and the prince could be the catalyst, but isn't necessarily the savior...
I think a true fairy tale is one in which we save each other or better yet, help each other save ourselves.
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