OPINION: A total solar eclipse and reclaiming child-like wonder
For some, it happens slowly: the regard for things such as giving out treats on Valentine’s Day, or trick-or-treating on Halloween, is gradually coaxed out of that part of your brain labeled “important things.” For others, it occurs like the shattering of a window: One well-placed pebble brings down the entire illusion. Perhaps you caught your guardian eating Santa’s cookies, or woke up on Easter Day to find that the bunny hadn’t come, and instead, it was time to have a serious conversation about holiday mascots. Either way, every one of us experiences that cruel transition from childhood to adulthood, characterized by a loss of wonder and the increasing presence of a monotonous cycle of responsibilities. You come to forget what day of the year you must wear green to avoid getting pinched, but are intensely aware of when your bills are due.